Concert blends folk music and ancient instruments in Shanghai

A concert celebrating the fusion of intangible heritage folk music, ancient music instruments dating back to 3,000 years ago, and performing arts from Changsha, Hunan province, was held at the He Luting Concert Hall of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music on Thursday.

As part of the 41st Shanghai Spring International Music Festival— one of the longest-running classical music events in China, originally debuting in 1959 —the concert was hosted by the conservatory and Changsha Municipal Bureau of Culture, Tourism, Radio, Film, and Television.

The concert opened with a performance using a replica of the bronze nao with elephant patterns — a treasure of Changsha Museum unearthed in 1983, which is believed to be a music instrument from the Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century-11th century BC). 

The highlight of the concert was a melody played by chime stones made of iron meteorite. It is a collaboration between the Museum of Oriental Instruments, Shanghai Astronomy Museum, a division of Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, and Wuyunfang Meteorite Studio.

The concert also featured a dance performance inspired by the colored clay figures unearthed from the Mawangdui Han Tombs in Changsha and an instrumental ensemble of Nanyin music, an old folk music style popular in Fujian province.