Hua Xia Ancient Music of Henan Museum performed in Shang Hai World Expo

Hua Xia Ancient Music of Henan Museum performed in Shang Hai World Expo

Hua Xia Ancient Music Group  of Henan Museum  

It waw the Henan-week Shang Hai World Expord from July 13 to 18. Henan Provincial Government and Cultural Department of Henan province jointly organised all the actives of this week. Hua Xia Ancient Music of Henan Museum was one of them.

During the this week , Hua Xia Ancient Music Group played four scenes each day. They performed many famous ancient music and ancient dance, sucu as some from the classical poetry ---"Classic of Poetry". They showed the ancient elite and soul of the central of China to the world. Each scene of the performance got a full house. And the audiences were deeply touched and shaked by the ancient music and dance. Hua Xia Ancient Music Group were also given an enthusiastic ovation from the audiences.

The excellent performance not only attracted the audiences but also attracted many mediums. Shanghai People’s Radio Station , the News Center of Shang Hai World Expord and some other mediums interviewed the group one after another. They propagandized Hua Xia Ancient Music, introduced Henan Museum, especially they showed the central cultural of China to the world.

At the same time, to be pitched on performing in Shang Hai World Expord was a great honour to Henan Museum, especially to Hua Xia Ancient Music Group. And Hua Xia Ancient Music Group  of Henan Museum got a complete success at last.

Brief of Henan Museum and Hua Xia Ancient Music Group

Henan Museum, located in Zhengzhou,   is a newly-built modern history and art museum. It opened to the public on May 1, 1998.Henan Museum occupies an area of more than 100,000 square meters, with a total floor space of 78,000 square meters.

At present the museum has a collection of more than 130,000 pieces of cultural relics treasures, of which more than 5,000 pieces are treasures of the first and second grades. Among them, the prehistoric cultural relics, bronze vessels of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, and pottery and porcelain wares of the various dynasties in Chinese history possess most distinguishing features. Inside the museum, there are basic exhibition halls, specialized exhibition halls and provisional exhibition halls. For the first batch of exhibitions, two basic displays and six specialized displays are offered. They are rich in contents, presenting a spectacular sight to visitors. 　

In March 2003 we carried out recruitment to the public and, after strict exams and selections, 17 excellent players and 1 compere were chosen. We selected 4 wind instrument players for an ancient flute, a stone pai-xiao, a yun and a sheng, respectively; 2 percussion instrument players for a drum and chime bell. 4 stringed instrument players to play the ancient se, bell and stone chime.
  
According to our requirements, each performer must be versatile enough to be able to play several roles. Our methodology is used to establish a qualified ancient music orchestra as soon as possible. We have also invited well-known Chinese archeologists, professors on musical archeology, and musicians for rigorous technical training of our performers. The performers have been sent out for visits and studies, inside and outside Henan. In this way a characteristic orchestra was eventually established at the Central Plains.  

The Central Plains of China, the place of etiquette and music since ancient times, features a variety of colorful resources on musical cultural relics and the long-lasting traditional culture. The astonishing melodies, if genuinely realized, are going to means not only high potential for the museum to continue the musical archeology and to keep pace with domestic and international standards, but will also have the incalculable social benefit. It will give rise to the pursuits and   bring a more gracious image of the Henan Museum to the public. A number of well-known Chinese experts and personnel at the Museum have reached a consensus through repeated debates: establishing the Hua Xia Ancient Music Arts Orchestra under the Henan Museum.
  

Hua Xia Ancient Music Group of Henan Museum

Hua Xia Ancient Music Group of Henan Museum

In the process of preparation, we have received kind support and care from leadership at the various levels, in the Central Government as well as local governments. The Orchestra has also been warmly cared for by Li Peng, Chairman of the National People’s Congress, and the Minister Ding Guangen. The Party Secretary Ma Zhongchen, the Provincial Governor Li Keqiang, as well as other leadership at the Provincial Committee of CPC and the Provincial Government, have   several times extended to us instruction and assistance. In return for the support from all walks of life and, to bring forward the folk culture and revitalize the development of Henan’s tourism, we will make resounding classic music. It has been silent for thousands of years. We will study the unearthed relics, which are going to be part of the collection of the Henan Museum, and make sure these are a highlight in Henan’s tourism.