Asian fusion takes on a new meaning with a musical performance combining the old with the new.

“We take traditional instruments and musical ideas that you find in Taiwan, and we create new and original compositions,” composer and performer Scott Prairie said.

Based out of Taiwan, A Moving Sound is a musical group that provides a mix of contemporary and folk-style music, using traditional instruments like the zhong ruan (a Chinese pluck string instrument), erhu (a Chinese violin), and a Tibetan singing bowl.

A Moving Sound’s performance takes place tonight and is part of this weekend’s WSU Performing Arts Humanitas Festival.

The concept for the group began with Prairie and his wife, singer Mia Hsieh, looking for a way to renew traditional music with his experience in music and hers in dance.

“The way we met has a certain element of East meets West,” Hsieh said. “I’m from Asia, he’s from America.”

The group’s name, “A Moving Sound,” is Prairie’s English translation of the group’s Chinese name, “Sheng Dong.” The two words translate to “sound” and “movement,” inspiring the group to describe its music as physically and emotionally moving, Hsieh said.

 “(Scott and I) are very interested in trying to see the difference in each culture and use the best to create our work and art,” Hsieh said.

Prairie said the songs reach far back to earthy folk idioms and old, ancient classical, using a meditative style of singing called Nan guan. It’s different from piece to piece because of the inspiration and sourcing from many different kinds of music found in Taiwan and in the neighboring area, he said.

“Traditional music is interesting in that it can be a little bit too much of the same thing for modern or Western audiences because it’s out of its context,” Prairie said.

Along with the songs, Hsieh also dances to enhance the emotions of the music. The dances are not in a specific style, but are more theatrical, she said.

Even the costumes portray this fusion, bringing together elements from the past and present. The costumes for A Moving Sound look ethnic but are not from one location or country.

Hsieh’s experience with singing involves studying and time spent with her family singing traditional songs. The songs A Moving Sound performs utilize a wide range of voice that stretches into theatrical expressions, she said.

Sometimes, the songs that Hsieh sings are in a language she has created. She said she tries to use the voice in a way to add energy and emotion into the music.

“I use voice as … my own creativity,” Hsieh said. “I feel I wanted to explore how the voice and the singing can go beyond the language.”

Prairie said there are many difficulties but also many rewarding moments as a part of this group. For him, one of the best parts is the experience of being onstage and playing these songs.

 “It’s one song I can enjoy for all the concert,” Hsieh said. “Every time it’s pure momentum.”

A Moving Sound (Sheng Dong) will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Jones Theatre in Daggy Hall. Admission is free.

 Reporting by Catherine Kruse