69th Grammy Awards
For Your Consideration
BEST TRADITIONAL FOLK ALBUM
Pentacy: Traditional Guzheng Music III
Annie Zhou
Pentacy: Traditional Guzheng Music III is the third installment in Annie Zhou’s ongoing exploration and preservation of traditional Chinese music repertoire. Building upon the foundational acoustic traditions established in Pentacy I and Pentacy II, this is a dedicated album of China's rich regional music schools (流派). Each track is a sonic postcard, capturing the unique regional dialects, cultural temperaments, and historical techniques that have shaped the Guzheng's tone over centuries.
Regional Schools (流派) Highlights:
The Henan School
Experiencing the robust northern spirit through the rapid plucking of "Going Upstairs" (《上楼》) and the joyful imitation of nature in "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" (《百鸟朝凤》).
The Shandong School
Highlighted by the serene, lyrical beauty of "Autumn Moon Over the Bamboo Grove" (《竹林秋月》).
The Zhejiang School
Grounded in the steady, rhythmic progression of "Thirty-Three Bars" (《三十三板》).
The Chaozhou School
Showcasing southern modal colors in "A Touch of Gold" (《一点金》) and the contemplative depth of "Winter Crows Upon the Water" (《寒鸦戏水》).
Xiansuo Shisantao (弦索十三套)
Featuring the rare, courtly grace of "Hehuan Tune" (《合欢令》), preserving a timeless court ensemble tradition.
Credits
Performed, Recorded, and Produced by Annie Zhou. Mixed by Thomas Juth.
About Annie Zhou
Annie Zhou is a Los Angeles–based guzheng performer, composer, and Recording Academy Voting Member recognized for her mastery of the traditional 21-string Chinese Guzheng. Dedicated to connecting Eastern and Western musical traditions, she has performed at distinguished events and venues including the Emmy® Award-winning Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration, the National Gallery of Art New Spring Concert, Pacific Symphony Lunar New Year’s Concert, and major cultural festivals across the United States. Her award-winning original compositions have been featured by PBS, the U.S. Department of Energy, film and media projects, and international platforms, reaching audiences worldwide through streaming, television, and digital media.
