At 9am of Nov. 6th, 2007, sponsored by the Musicology Department of Central Conservatory of Music, "World Music Days 2007" and the "Second International Symposium on African and Chinese Music" opened formally. The scholars and artists who come from different cultural contexts happily gathered in the Recital Hall of CCOM and had a transcultural dialogue between African and Chinese Musics.
Prof. Wang Cizhao, the President of CCOM and Guo Shulan, the Secretary of the Party Committee attended the opening ceremony that was hosted by the Chair of Musicology Department Zhang Boyu. Other Chinese scholars included the professors of Musicology Department at CCOM Yuan Jingfang, Yi Hongshu, Chen Ziming, Zhou Qingqing, Yao Yaping, Zheng Zuxiang, He Yunfeng, Li Xin, etc.; the Vice President of China Conservatory of Music Zhao Talimu, Prof. Wu Wenguang, the Curator of Chinese Music Research Institute, and Prof. Yao Yijun, the Vice Chair of Musicology Department at China Conservatory; Prof. Zhang Zhentao, the Director of Research Institute of Music at the Chinese Academy of Arts, and Prof. Xiangyang; Professor of Shanghai Conservatory of Music Xiao Mei; Prof. Wang Jianxin, the Director of Library at Tianjin Conservatory of Music, and Prof. Ming Yan, etc. Scholars who come from abroad included the Executive Director of the Music Research Institute and Publisher of MRI Press in Richmond Cynthia Tse Kimberlin, Associate Professor and the Director of Ethnomusicology at Azusa Pacific University in California Kimasi Browne, the Director of Annual International Summer Program in African Interdisciplinary Arts and co-Artistic Director of the African Ensemble at Ohio University Paschal Yao Younge, Associate Professor of Wesleyan University Eric Charry, Editor of Nigerian Music Review and Ife Music Femi Adedeji, etc. The participants also included other Chinese and African musicians, such as percussionists from Yungang, Shanxi province, and African drummers, African xylophone players and singers in gospel chorus. During the symposium, they will present various lectures and concerts to the professors and students of CCOM.
| 
|
|
In the opening ceremony, President Wang gave a speech first. From the perspective of the relationship between professional music education and folk music, he highly affirmed the World Music Days and Symposium sponsored by Musicology Department. In addition, he pointed out that, in the global flow of coexistence of multi-culture, music breaks down the boundaries of regions more extensively than ever and presents independent features respectively, hence promoted the dialogues among different musical cultures. The dialogue will enlarge different people's view of cultures and enrich their musical forms. The international symposium will improve the recognition and understanding on Chinese music throughout the world as well. In the end, President Wang expressed his heartfelt thanks and warm welcome to the guests from all over the world.
Prof. Kimberlin, the Executive Director of the Music Reseach Institut and Publisher of MRI Press in Richmond also gave a speech. At first, she appreciated the Central Conservatory of Music for sponsoring this important event and then stated that the dialogue between Chinese culture and African culture will promote each other's understanding and exchange. In addition, she presented President Wang a souvenir to commend the outstanding contribution of the World Music Days and Symposium to cultural exchange.
Prof. Chen Ziming, the President of Society for World Music in China, stated that Chinese professional music education was influenced by Western teaching model for a long time. However, in the new global context, the pattern should be broken down. On one hand, we should deeply explore Chinese traditional music culture; on the other, we should accept World Music as a part of our educational system and share the world music cultural resource with other nations.
Other scholars, such as Prof. Kimasi Browne, the Vice President of China Conservatory Zhao Talimu, also gave short speeches and wished the symposium a complete success! Prof. zhang Boyu conveyed Dr. Akin Euba's greetings to the symposium because he could not make the trip for his illness.
Afterwards, the first "dialogue" between Chinese and African music began with two short shows presented by Chinese traditional percussion ensemble and CCOM's African percussion ensemble. The Percussion Art Club Ensemble of Yungang at Shanxi province played Zhen Chang Drum for the audiences first. Their show won unanimous applause. The new established "CCOM African Percussion Ensemble" instructed by Ghana percussionist Paschal Yao Younge played a genuine African percussion piece, combining with the excellent dancing by the great dancer Zeima Badu-Younge, reached a joyous climax by the end.
