Chinese Traditional Instruments Group of PLA Art Academy Performs in Germany

At the invitation of the Villa Musica Foundation (VMF) of Rheinland-Pfalz State, Germany, a group of 7 musicians of the China Red Star Traditional Instruments Orchestra of the People’s Liberation Army Art Academy, organized and sent by the CPAFFC and led by the well-known tenor Li Shuangjiang, visited the state from August 22 to September 3, 2008, during which they held 12 concerts.

The VMF, with whom the CPAFFC has maintained a cooperative relationship for 15 years, has received Chinese folk music groups many times and played a positive role in introducing Chinese music to the German audience. It made full preparations so that people of all ages from different regions could have access to Chinese music and know more about Chinese culture. Thanks to their careful arrangements, during the visit that lasted more than 10 days, the sweet melodies played by Chinese traditional stringed and woodwind instruments could be heard in the church, the mysterious castle of the Middle Ages, the auditorium of the conservatory, the multi-function hall of a financial institution or the crowded square of Baroque Festival.

The Chinese musicians set great store by the performance tour. Before they left China, they had the programme printed beautifully with introduction of the performers and Chinese traditional musical instruments in Chinese and English for the audience who were not familiar with Chinese music. The two-hour programme they prepared contained different types of music for the audience to enjoy and appreciate. Ensembles such as Tune of Collecting Tea Leaves and Jasmine Flower with rich Han ethnic flavour held the German audience spellbound, and the ancient tune Three Chants on Yangguan Pass brought them to the frontier fortress of ancient China as they were amazed at the country’s vastness through the music of ethnic minority groups. It was Deep Night, a tune from Peking Opera, pushed the concert to its climax. Besides the ensembles, there were also solos which provided the audience the opportunities to concentrate on each unique Chinese traditional musical instrument and appreciate its grace and charm. To give them a special enjoyment, the musicians performed several pieces of German music with the Chinese instruments. Every time the audience would feel happy and clap their hands with the rhythm of the music while humming to themselves, which made the concert fill with a harmonious and friendly atmosphere. Li Shuangjiang, a tenor and head of the group, was always so moved by the warm atmosphere that he would sing at the end of the show to express the Chinese people’s and his own friendly feelings towards the German people.

The music came from a country so far away evoked great response in Germany. The most influential local newspaper Rheinland-Pfalz Daily gave considerable coverage of the concerts with pictures. Some report praises the beautiful melodies of Chinese music as “sound from heaven”. It was the last few days of the Olympic Games when the group was in Germany, as the whole world was watching the Games as well as China enthusiastically. The visiting musicians from Beijing heated up the China euphoria in the state of Rheinland-Pfalz. The local people said, China not only successfully hosted the Olympic Games but also gained glamorous achievements in competition. As Chinese musicians brought to Rheinland-Pfalz the hospitality of the Olympic host, they should also be presented an Olympic gold medal for their high level performance, they said.

It was the 20th anniversary of the Association for Germany-China Friendship Donnersberg (GDCF-Donnersberg) when the delegation visited the country. Countess Monika von Borries, president of the GDCF-Donnersberg and holder of the title of Friendship Ambassador, held a celebration reception in her house where the Chinese musicians were invited and gave an impromptu performance.