An extremely large set (65) of bronze bells was excavated in China in 1978, buried in the tomb of Marquis Yi since 433 BC. The set of tuned bells, spanning a five octave range, called a bianzhong, requires several players. It hangs in three rows about ten feet in height overall. The largest bells are the size of an oil drum. It was brought to Hong Kong in 1997 to be used in Tan Dun's Symphony 1997, commissioned to commemorate the reunification of Hong Kong with China. The symphony featured cellist Yo-yo Ma and the bianzhong in a concerto section called Earth.
The cd, featuring the Yips Childrens Choir (they sing the ancient love song "Jasmine Flower," borrowed by Puccini for his opera Turandot), the Imperial Bells Ensemble of China, the Hong Kong PO and Yo-Yo Ma, was released by Jas Hennessy & Co., Sony SK63368. It is well-worth listening to.
A 25-string zither was one of the 125 other musical instruments found at the Yi tomb.
Chinese TV is available through Shaw cable in western Canada, but it is a pay channel. They opened their channel without charge to cable subscribers for the 1997 re-unification ceremony and the broadcast of the symphony. The broadcast included live shots of British officials and their families, many with tear-stained faces, boarding a British Navy vessel to leave Hong Kong. It is a TV presentation that should be released on video.