Cultural exchange

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A member of the Central Conservatory of Music Performing Tour from China plays a traditional Chinese pipa at Valparaiso University to celebrate the coming of the Year of the Dragon. | Photo Provided

Updated: March 11, 2012 8:15AM

Fireworks flared on the other side of the globe recently as China celebrated the arrival of the Year of the Dragon. A group traveled more than 6,500 miles to share this tradition and culture through music with residents of northwest Indiana at Valparaiso University.

The Chinese New Year Performing Troupe of the Central Conservatory of Music of China, referred to as the “Julliard of the East,” performed a variety of music on traditional Chinese instruments. Professors from the Zhejiang University of Technology sang songs about tea leaves, willow baskets and market places.

Amy Berube attended the event with international student Xingyu Chen. Chen was matched with Berube through Friendship Families, a VU program that matches students with local residents to help acquaint them with the city and culture.

“I enjoyed the traditional Chinese instruments,” Berube said. “The music was beautiful. It was the first time I had ever seen the instruments or heard them played. My favorite selection was ‘Poems in Two Parts.’ Each instrument was singing to each other. It was spectacular. The evening was a fun way to get a taste of China.”

“Poems in Two Parts” was a musical dialogue between two instruments, the yangqin and erhu. The yangqin, a multi-stringed instrument, created dulcimer-like noises when plucked. The sharp strokes of the yangqin contrasted with the softer-sounding erhu, whose notes seemed to float through the air.

Professor Yu Hongmei played the erhu, an ancient Chinese folk fiddle. The small cylindrically shaped instrument created mesmerizing sounds that vibrated throughout the room as Yu gracefully slid the bow across the two strings, which were stretched across the long handle.

“I feel much pleasure to share our culture with the audience. It’s a good thing to exchange (cultures),” Yu said. “I like Chinese traditional music. The instrument sounds like a human voice. It is very expressive, like I’m reading a poem from my heart.”

Later that evening, dramatic sounds from the nao and bo, Chinese cymbals, were performed by Qiao Jia, Wang Yuyan and Liu Yiheng. The small hand-held cymbals adorned with red ribbons were struck in beats ranging from quick and snappy to slow and rhythmic.

Various other traditional Chinese instruments were played throughout the evening. Musical CDs representing the goodwill cultural exchange were available for individuals to take home that evening.