Title: Chinese Music Ensemble ft. Emily Fugelstad, di-zi - Y. S. Tung - Yang Ming Chun Xiao
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga4BJrdttME
Culture: This is the Chinese Music Ensemble from Northern Illinois University, playing Y. S. Tung's "Yang Ming Chun Xiao", or "Spring Morning on the Yang-Ming Mountain", featuring NIU student Emily Fugelstad, di-zi. The di-zi is a Chinese flute-like aerophone, and this particular video shows a college-level Chinese music ensemble playing a composition on authentic Chinese instruments.
Instrumentation: Di-zi, Chinese orchestra
This particular link was fascinating to me...I searched on YouTube for videos on the di-zi, because I like its clear, bright sound. I find it very interesting and wanted to see what came up when I looked for more information. This is not what I expected to find. Here we have an American university group, playing authentic Chinese music, on Chinese instruments. I believe that this is a wonderful example of the good things that can happen when cultures collide. Not only do we get to listen to and see instruments we would normally never hear or see, but we get to experience something that not many American concert goers will ever see in a normal concert. This also goes to show how a performance doesn't have to be completely "authentic" to be enjoyable and a culturally eye-opening experience.
I completely agree with your last statement. We don't need everything to be completely authentic to be enjoyable. I thought it was very cool how these students had the opportunity to play on real instruments in an ensemble even though they were not in the Chinese setting with culture bearers and such. Of course this brings up the problem of how we can do this is in a public school setting with limited resources. It could be a great concert to bring students to!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great video! It is wonderful to see universities broadening their horizons and including other cultural ensembles in their programs. Usually, we only see this happen in the percussion department, so it is wonderful to see it happening with stings and winds as well. I wish Hartt had similar performing opportunities. With that being said, the school is taking a step in the right direction by adding the chamber orchestra and brass ensemble to the list on ensembles this year.
ReplyDelete