The China-UK Cultural Exchange Programme at St Martin-in-the-Fields

The inaugural Cbina-UK Cultural Exchange Programme arrived at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Friday lunchtime, July 18. .The programme brings together musicians from Birmingham (where Artistic Director Di Xiao is a Piano Professor) and its sister cites. Stephen Maddock, OBE, the Principal of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, quote a famous English composer in this regard, and links that to a Chinese proverb:

As Elgar said, “The love of music is the most enduring thing in the world”. And as a Chinese proverb reminds u, “Music is a bridge to the heart and soul”.

and as Di Xiao says,

This is not just about music – it’s about building bonds that last a lifetime. We’re giving young people the tools to become cultural leaders in a global world.

Musicians from Guangzhou and Nanjing have gathered in Birmingham his summer. What we heard in London was the Guangdong Experimental High School Chinese Traditional Orchestra, which was founded in 2004. This is one of southern China’s top schools, and specialises in Guangdong and Chaozhou musical traditions. Winner of a Gold Medal at Vienna’s Golden Hall, the orchestra has also performed at the United Nations.

The concert included traditional folk percussion (Thrush Hopping on.Perch), Cantonese music (including.Cantonese lullaby), Teochew music (Verdant Voices of Spring), the characterful Horse Racing for erhu ensemble (they can neigh like no the instrument), a Chinese plucked string ensemble performance of Echoes of the Tea-Horse Trail, and, finally, Ardent whispers where flower meet the moon.

A packed St Martin’s reacted enthusiastically to the raw energy and subtle musicality on offer: two poles of a music that deserves exploration, that deserves our attention. The Guangdong players are fine ambassadors of Chinese culture.

Although videos of the present ensemble at St Martin’s are not available, it is good to hear least some of this music, so here’s the first piece we heard, the Cantonese Traditional Colourful Clouds Chasing a Silver Moon, one of the most famous of Cantonese pieces, here performed by the China National Traditional Orchestra:

After this concert, the tour continued with a visit to Cambridge for a forum with Cambridge education experts and PhD scholars, on to the Ludlow Music Festival (July 20), a CBSO Side-by-Side day (July 22) ,and a closing ceremony at RBC Bradshal Hall on July 22.