Zheng Buqing, a composer in Xiamen, Fujian province, combines nanyin, an ancient musical style from East China's Fujian province, with accappella, a style of singing without any accompaniment. [Photo/xmnn.cn]

A composer in Xiamen, Fujian province, is creatively combining nanyin, an ancient musical style from East China's Fujian province, with accappella, a style of singing without any accompaniment.

Zheng Buqing, the composer and a "legend" in local nanyin circles, has long retained his enthusiasm for the intangible cultural heritage, pursuing a finely-tuned balance between nanyin and modern music styles.

Zheng is capable of playing several instruments, most of which he taught himself to play when he was young. However, it was at art school that he really became attached to nanyin and received formal musical training.

His curiosity for new things has inspired him to bring new compositional ideas to nanyin.

Zheng says that the tunes and forms of nanyin feature a unique style and that an innovative but appropriate approach is required to perfect the music of this genre.