Beijing welcomed the world via the Olympics, and another event to be held in China's capital is set to embrace people from all over the world again, this time through song.
From October 3rd to 8th the World Folk Song Festival will welcome over 22 international artistic teams and 14 domestic art troupes as they showcase their colorful folk songs and ethnic cultures. Let's follow our reporter to learn more about this cultural extravaganza.
During the six-day World Folk Song Festival, which runs from October 3rd to 8th, artists from different backgrounds will turn the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing a sea of world folk songs.
Among the five thousand different nationalities in the world, there are about ten thousand different kinds of folk music. The upcoming World Folk Song Festival aims to offer a platform for exchange and communication between these world artists.
As Yu Xingyi, the deputy director of the Ministry of Culture says: "The festival provides a very good stage for artists from around world to exchange views; this is a grand world cultural festival. I believe this event can help deepen cooperation, understanding and friendship among people and countries."
Chen Ziming is an expert on folk music and also a professor in the Central Conservatory of Music. Naturally he is thrilled that Beijing will host this event. Chen thinks the festival is a good chance to broaden people's understanding of world folk music, believing it will change people's long time focus solely on European music.
"This idea excites me so much. I've been working in the field of world folk music for a long time, and have visited over 200 countries. I feel world music is so rich. For various reasons, we are more familiar with European music. Taking myself as an example, I play violin and I admired European music so much when I was young. Later, I became interested in Chinese music, and got to understand the depth of Chinese music. Then I traveled to India and other countries, I realized that the world is so diverse. I want to share what I saw, but my personal power is limited. This festival will allow all Chinese people to enjoy the best of folk music from around the world."
Though it's the first World Folk Music Festival to be held in Beijing, Deng Yijiang, the deputy director of the NCPA is hoping to make it a regular occurrence.
"Starting from this time, the world folk music festival will be held every two years. Meanwhile, in order to let more people enjoy the artistic atmosphere; the NCPA will take the artists to communities and colleges."
Artists invited to this year's festival are world renowned folk song singers and art troupes. Hungarian folk vocalist Marta Sebestyen, won a Grammy Award for Best World Music Album in 1996. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu from Australia, although blind from birth, is a powerhouse of musical creativity. And "Black Voices" from Great Britain will present the best pure black music. People can also experience culture from Bengal, Indonesia, Israel, Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam.
Domestic artists from Inner Mongolia, Tibet, the Qiang nationality, the Korean nationality and the Tong nationality will also present their musical works.
Besides performances, ethnic costumes and accessories will also be on show.
The price for the festival is also affordable; with the average price being one hundred yuan. (or around $14 US dollars).
(CRI September 12, 2008)
