Chinese Traditional Concert Applauded at the U.N. Hall

Chinese Traditional Concert Applauded at the U.N. Hall

A melodious Chinese traditional music played by Chinese musicians here Thursday night at the U.N. General Assembly Hall kicked off the 2000 Chinese Culture Exchange Tour in the United States.

The music,called Good News, was the opening part of the Chinese Traditional Concert which was the first ever held in the UN General Assembly Hall. The concert consisted of ten pieces of classical Chinese folk music, including The Moonlit Spring River and Flowers, Folk Dance of the Yao People, Butterfly Lovers and Ye Shen Chen from Beijing Opera.

And two western musical pieces such as Galop in Chinese Style composed by great musician Johann Strauss were also played at the concert by Chinese traditional musical instruments.

Before the concert started, an ten-minute video tape showing Chinese National Traditional Orchestra was displayed, giving the audience an experience of Chinese traditional music and its musical instruments.

In the Folk Dance of the Yao People, which vividly presents Yao people celebrating a festival with songs and dances, the main theme is played on a gaohu, a stringed instrument, resembling the elegant movements of female dancers.

While the liveliness of the young men was embodied through the vigorous accompaniment played on plucked instruments.

When the music ended in an enthusiastic climax of dancing and singing, the 1,000-plus audience applauded for a long time.

"It's my first time to experience a Chinese traditional concert, and it's amazing! Chinese musical instruments are so unique, and I can't believe erhu, such a small instrument can give out so beautiful music." David Knorr, a technician told Xinhua.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and his wife attended the concert, accompanied by several of his deputies and other senior U.N. officials.

"Anywhere in the world, music can be a form of perfect communication. It doesn't care about your passport, language or creed. It just wants to be enjoyed, and as such it is a manifestation of our common humanity." Annan wrote in a letter of greetings to the concert. "If music be the food of peace, play on." he said.

Annan thanked Chinese musicians for coming here to share their music with people of all nations. He said watching such high-level concert helped him to relax after a full day's working.

Wang Yingfan and Shen Guofang, Chinese U.N. Permanent Representative and Permanent Deputy Representative, and Zhang Hongxi, Chinese Consular General in New York appeared at the concert with their wives.

The concert was part of the 25-day 2000 Chinese Culture Exchange Tour in the United States, jointly sponsored by the Information Office of the State Council of China and Chinese Ministry of Culture and aimed at helping Americans to better know China and its people.

Zhao Qizheng, Director of the Information Office of the State Council, Li Bing, Zhao's deputy and Vice Minister of Culture Meng Xiaosi were also present at the concert.