“Chinese Musical Instruments Exposition” in South Africa

Chinese musical instruments serve as an important bridge for cultural exchange. In ancient times, Chinese instruments were directly introduced to neighboring countries such as Japan and Korea, exerting a posi-tive influence on the development of music in these cultures. Since the establishment ofthe People’s Repub-lic of China, China has sent numerous cultural delegations and musicians to participate in international art festivals, youth and student exchanges, and other cultural events all over the world. Chinese musicians have won numerous international awards with their outstanding performances on the sheng (reed pipes),suona (double-reed horn), banhu fiddle, and dizi (transverse bamboo flute), introducing people around the world to the warmth, enthusiasm, and culture of the Chinese people.

The reforms and opening-up carried out in China since the 1980s have provided a great impetus for cultural exchange between China and the rest of the world. Numerous traditional and improved Chinese musical instruments have accompanied their owners to the four corners of the world to perform, winning great acclaim on the international stage. At the 1996 “Spring in Paris International Music Festival,” the Chinese National Chamber Orchestra performed for European audiences for the first time. The audiences responded warmly to the music of the pipa, erhu, xun, and dizi, and Chinese instrumental music made a great impression throughout Europe. In the spring of 1998, the Chinese National Orchestra traveled to Vienna, the music capital of the world. Performing in the Gold Hall of Vienna, they used the magic of their traditional instruments to express the best wishes of the Chinese people to the people of Austria. In July of 2004, the “Chinese Musical Instruments Exposition” was held as part of “Chinese Culture Comes to Africa” in South Africa. Including exhibits of many traditional Chinese instruments, the exposition received excel-lent reviews from all circles of society.

The Chinese nation represents one of the most ancient cultures in the history of world civilization. The talent and wisdom of the Chinese people are exemplified in their various distinctive musical instruments.

Enriching the storehouse of world culture beyond measure, China’s musical instruments have made indeli-ble contributions to humanity’s artistic development, vividly conveying to the people of the world the pro-found artistic culture and legacy of this great nation of the Far East.

qingquang

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