When East meets West, they can make beautiful music together. And that's what's happening at the International Musical Instrument Exhibition in Beijing. This 4-day event presents a fantastic array of more than 1,000 traditional Chinese and western musical instruments. The show sounded its opening notes on Wednesday at the Capital's Agriculture Exhibition Center.
It's a treat for the eyes, as well as the ears, of any music lover. Get acquainted with more than 1,000 musical instruments. This is the Xun, China's answer to the ocarina. The egg-shaped wind instrument dates back to more than 4000 years ago.
Materials and components of these musical instruments are on show, too, along with professional acoustic equipment, journals, magazines, and audio-visual products. Highlighted are Chinese musical instruments, which make up almost two-thirds of the exhibits.
Chen Zhiqiang, Director of China Musicians Association, said, "Chinese musical instruments are enjoying a very fast development these years. Children used to simply learn electronic organ and piano. But things have been changing a lot. Many children have chosen to learn Chinese instruments, which will benefit development of Chinese music and instruments."
Musicians give demonstrations, but just seeing the instruments prove that silence can indeed be golden. The exhibition closes Sunday.
(CCTV.com September 16, 2003)
