Tibetans Perform Their Own SymphonyThe symphony "Yarlung Zangbo Grand Cayon," the first of its kind by the Tibetan ethnic group, means good fortune for Tibetan musical workers and also a grand event for the whole Tibetan ethnic group, said one of the composers.The symphony is performed using about 50 ancient musical instruments that have been used in Tibetan Buddhism temples and palaces for a thousand years, and folk musical instruments. The symphony is being rehearsed in Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. "This is the first time so many traditional Tibetan musical instruments have been used to display, in the form of Western symphony, the origin, spirit and new look of today's Tibet," said Danzim Gongbu, director of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Song and Dance Troupe. He said that the symphony is expected to be performed in Lhasa in the first half of the year, and later will be staged overseas to "let the world's people hear and see the splendid music and culture of Tibet." Xinhua reporters saw that four long horns used in temples, a dozen Genka, which is a kind of stringed instrument, golden suona horns and other instruments are used to provide images and express the surging Yarlung Zangbo River and the bravery of Tibetans who fight and live on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Flutes made from the bones of eagles and suona horns used to welcome distinguished guests in the past were also used to perform the music, said Danzim Gongbu. Flute player Bianduo said excitedly that the dreams of several generations of Tibetan musicians of using traditional Tibetan musical instruments to display people's lives and thinking in modern Tibet has come true. Conductor Bianba expressed confidence that they will be capable of performing Tibet-styled world famous symphonies at the Golden Hall in Vienna of Austria in the future. |
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