The mission of PKU Bamboo Flute Institute, which was founded in 2005, is to promote Chinese folk music. At 7:30 p.m. on June 5th, all seats were occupied in Beijing Concert Hall; the audience was anticipating an auditory feast of traditional Chinese music presented by members of PKU Bamboo Flute Institute. Dr. Bi Minghui, the instructor of the institute, gave an account of the foundation and development of the institute, expressing his deep love for the institute and ardent expectations of its members.

“The Beautiful Bambusa Multiplex”, the concluding piece of music at the past concert “Beyond the Clouds” of PKU Bamboo Flute Institute, was the opening piece this time, which conveyed the institute’s founding principles: Inheritance and Innovation. The soft and sweet-sounding melodies of Bau and Gaohu were in perfect harmony with the whole orchestra; the lyrical style tunes with a rich Yunnan flavor won wild and prolonged applause from the audience.

  
 “The Beautiful Bambusa Multiplex”

The concert combined traditional Chinese ethnic music with modern original music and also invited some elements of foreign music in accordance with the idea of Western and Chinese, traditional and modern music going hand in hand. Zhang Xianyao, the current president of the Institute, performed “Happy Encounter”, a piece of the northeast China’s hearty and unrestrained style with the orchestra; the Chinese zither, pipa and flute trio “The Cresting Moon” showed a deep and dreamy passion for classics. As for the modern part, “Beyond the Clouds” a new piece of Chinese folk music composed by Guo Wenjing, a famous composer, aroused the imagination of its listeners with three-dimensional sound effect, eccentric percussion and original ecological style tunes; Xia Guangyu’s performing piece “The Torrents of Spring” was adapted from “Song on the Wusuli River”, depicting the spectacular scene of hundreds of boats striving to flow with its highly melodious tune; the far-reaching melody of “The Ringing Camel Bells” brought blessings from Northwest China.

 
The Performers

Traditional Chinese music is well-known for its five notes. This idea was embodied in the concluding piece “The Note of Yu”. The sounds of cheerful drums, passionate bamboo flutes, joyous and powerful Suona mingled with the whole orchestra. A sense of bliss and happiness overflew the concert hall.

At the end of “The Note of Yu”, PKU overseas cappella group SINGSONG stepped onto the stage and extended their birthday blessings: a traditional Chinese work song “Bow Hanging” and a folksong “Striving Leads Winning”. Performers on stage and the audience off stage had a perfect interaction with the help of Dr. Bi Minghui; a sense of beauty and affection for music spiraled.

As a special guest of honor, PKU President Zhou Qifeng attended the concert and enjoyed the brilliant performance. At the close of the concert, PKU President Zhou Qifeng went onto the stage and shook hands with every performer. He said that he was pleased to see that PKU students had such a profound musicianship and he hoped that they redoubled their efforts to inherit the essence of traditional Chinese music. Afterwards, the current chairman of PKU Bamboo Flute Institute, Zhao Yufei, pronounced that the Institute would be renamed as Chinese Music Institute and then showed to the audience PKU President Zhou Qifeng’s handwriting of “Chinese Music Institute” in calligraphy.

The performers presented a lively folk song “Please Stay, Guests from afar” as a farewell excitedly, hoping to detain this happy night, keep all the hearts of those who love and support the Institute and cherish every precious and memorable moment. 

 Edited by: Xiang Yunke 
 Translated by: Chen Miaojuan 
 Source: Youth League