The concerts will feature folk music of various minorities played on typical folk instruments such as the Uygur plucked instrument tanbuer and hand-drum, Jingpo's percussive dongba, tuliang, the Korean vertical flute pili, and bawu, the bamboo flute of the Dai people. The Miao's reed-pipe wind instrument lusheng and the Mongolian two-string fiddle matouqin will also be featured.

Founded in 1996 with the majority of members coming from the music school of China Central University of Nationalities, the orchestra now has about 80 composers and players from more than 20 minorities.

The orchestra has been engaged in inheriting, spreading and developing the folk music of the minorities. The music it composes and plays on the typical instruments of the minorities are rich in folk and ethnic flavor.

Since its establishment, the orchestra has developed into one of the few professional ensembles composed of all minority players. It often performs in the country as well as touring abroad to act as a culture messenger.

"It will be a rare concert featuring so many minority folk instruments," said Dong Jinhan of the Bai ethnic group, who is chief conductor of the troupe. "The concert-goers are sure to have their eyes opened and get more knowledge of minority music."

The players will perform both solo pieces and orchestra work.

Hu Meilin, a junior student in the music school of Central University of Nationalities, will play "The Lucky Bird" with pili accompanied by Korean percussion.

The girl of Korean descent said, "It is a piece of traditional music of the Korean minority that we heard in childhood."

Hu will also introduce the timber of deep and sonorous pili sounds.

(China Daily June 27, 2002)