US audience treated to concert of traditional Chinese music

A concert featuring traditional Chinese stringed instruments introduced an American audience to China's classical and folk music, in an effort to foster cultural exchange through the universal language of music.

The concert, titled The Charm of Chinese Strings, was hosted at the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco on Thursday, where four accomplished musicians from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing displayed the unique qualities of four traditional instruments: the pipa, guzheng, sanxian and yangqin.

The musicians, all of whom have achieved top honors in prestigious music competitions, were invited by Chinese Consul General Zhang Jianmin and his wife Zheng Xin, as part of their US tour, which also included a concert at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and performances in Oregon.

"These traditional Chinese instruments are each deeply intertwined with the rich tapestry of Chinese culture spanning thousands of years," Zheng told the audience members, who were mostly from art communities in the Bay Area. "They have been essential, not only in rituals and religious ceremonies, but also in folk celebrations and artistic expressions," she said.

The pipa, one of China's most beloved instruments, captivated listeners with its expressive range, while the guzheng, a 2,500-year-old plucked instrument, charmed the audience with its ethereal tones.

The sanxian, a three-stringed plucked instrument, resonated with deep, sonorous notes, while the yangqin, a hammered dulcimer, demonstrated versatility in both delicate and powerful expressions.

The performers presented a selection of traditional Chinese masterpieces, including The Music of the Ancient General and The Moon of the River on the Spring Night. Those pieces, each "a treasure of China's musical heritage", not only showed the musicians' exceptional skills but also transported the audience through the songs and stories of ancient China, said Zheng.

In the audience was Gary Bukovnik, a San Francisco-based artist who has had numerous museum exhibitions in China. "I love this music. This is wonderful, and really super," Bukovnik told China Daily. "We don't have enough (Chinese music) in the United States, but I think Chinese musicians are getting to be more of interest to so many people."

Bukovnik, who has a deep appreciation for Chinese culture, shared his personal connection to pingtan, a traditional Chinese opera form he encountered during his time in Suzhou, a city in Jiangsu province.

He said that while Chinese folk music may seem unfamiliar to some in the West, there are underlying similarities between instruments like the guzheng and the Western zither.

Music, Bukovnik said, can bridge cultural differences and bring people together. "What seems so foreign turns out to be so familiar," he said, adding that such similarities can help people relate to unfamiliar musical traditions.

Conway B. Jones Jr, chairman of the Calvin Simmons Center for the Performing Arts and a former president of the Oakland Youth Orchestra, echoed Bukovnik's sentiments.

"Music transcends everything. Music transcends all our differences, and music has the ability to bring us together as one in harmony," he said, sharing his observation of the exchange between US and Chinese youth musicians.

"Art is essential to culture. Art is one of the foundational pillars of culture. So cultural exchange through the arts is very important, and we hope that the message goes out to the larger community," said Jones.

He recalled an experience of cultural exchange in 2019 when about 100 musicians from the Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra embarked on a performance tour of three Chinese cities. Jones described it as "an overwhelmingly positive experience", saying that the young musicians not only performed for Chinese audiences but also engaged in meaningful exchanges with their Chinese peers.

Jones said that a few years ago, the Oakland youth orchestra welcomed a delegation of young choral musicians from China, who performed for a week in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The exchanges have proven to have lasting impact.

"Young people getting together, living together, exchanging stories, fashion and culture like this, it was a very positive experience," Jones said. "I think they have continued to communicate with one another. The friendships that they made in that cultural exchange, I think, will endure throughout most of their lives, if not all their lives."

liazhu@chinadailyusa.com