The Chinese Culture Talks Lecture on Chinese Folk Music in Washington DC
A lecture on Chinese folk music was held at Yu Ying Charter School, Washington DC on Dec 10. Artists from the China National Music Orchestra and keynote speaker Zhou Yi from New York gave a presentation on Chinese folk music and musical instruments for the students and teachers of the school.
The lecture opened with a performance from the famous Chinese melody of Boisterous Elation. Celebrated Pipa performer Zhou Yi gave the students a vivid introduction on the classification of Chinese traditional musical instruments and special performing art with a live demonstration of the artists from the Orchestra. The young audience of this American school excitedly applauded and cheered on the Chinese performance.
Erhu player Li Chao performed a section of Chinese melody Horse Racing. Another performer, Bao Longfei, showed the variety of the sounds in the "sheng" (a reed pipe wind instrument) by playing Chinese and Western melodies. Zhongruan player Zhao Yue performed Reminiscences of Yunnan. Dong Xiaolin demonstrated the playing techniques of Pipa to the students. And the children learned how to play the Pipa under the guidance of speaker Zhou Yi who performed the melody Ambush on All Sides. The Orchestra collectively gave a performance of Boisterous Elation. At last, 40 students of the Yu Ying Charter School choir performed the Chinese song Hong Yan.
Guo Qianqian, a third grade student expressed her affection for the Pipa. She said, "I am really fond of the sounds of Pipa and want to learn how to play it, but it looks difficult."
Maquita Alexander, an officer from the school also noted that students are starting to have a strong interest in Chinese folk music, and this vivid lecture is a precious opportunity for them to learn about Chinese history and culture.
Yu Ying Charter School is the only public school in DC to offer Chinese language immersion. The choir of the school performed for the first ladies of the US and China during President Xi Jinping's US visit in September.
A large-scale multimedia Chinese folk music play titled Chinese Charmw ill be held at the Kennedy Center from Dec 11 to 13. The China National Music Orchestra will also perform during the play. Organizers have invited students aged 8 to 11 of Yu Ying Charter School's choir to join the play. These forty students spent two months practicing the Chinese melody Hong Yan.
The Chinese Culture Talks will be held at the Kennedy Center on Dec 11, introducing Chinese folk music to more audiences. Chinese director Wang Chaoge and young Chinese composer Jiang Ying will give a presentation on the knowledge of Chinese folk music.
