Chinese bamboo flute concert 'ear opener' for New Yorkers

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A Chinese dizi or bamboo flute concert at Binghamton University (BU), a public university in New York, has turned out to be an "ear opener" for local music lovers.

Visiting Chinese professor Chen Yuxiao shared with the audience a myriad of timbres of dizi, one of China's oldest and well-known musical instruments, at the event, co-sponsored by BU's Confucius Institute of Chinese Opera (CICO) on Thursday at the university's Casadesus Recital Hall.

The young Chinese musician was accompanied by pianist Margaret Reitz, flutist Jeanne Sperber, and cellist Zachary Sweet in a musical fusion of the East and the West.

Chen Yuxiao (C) performs onstage with other artists during a concert at Binghamton University in New York, the United States, March 7, 2019. /Xinhua Photo

"Real ear opener! The concert was fascinating. My wife played Western flute (with) the company of Chinese flute. We never get into the Chinese music here like this before," said David Sperber, the husband of Jeanne Sperber.

"A whole different idea of melody of tonality of timbre. The richness in the instrument reflected the traditional culture of the music and form. Everything is fascinating and we have a wonderful time."

"The event is incredible. You guys touched my heart. It reminds me of a lot of memories," said Koji, who is from Japan and now lives in New York City. "It gives me passion to play instruments. Because I have stopped playing instruments for a long time. It makes me want to start again!"

Audience applaud during Chen Yuxiao 's concert at Binghamton University in New York, the United States, March 7, 2019. /Xinhua Photo

Graig Fayerabend, a resident of Binghamton, New York, particularly liked the group piece when the cello, piano, guzheng (Chinese zither), drum and bamboo flute were played together during the concert.

"I thought it was really special the way they mixed together musically. I have never heard anything like this. In that piece of music, I thought the flute was representing life. The sound of flute was like thriving and surviving. The cello was like smooth wind, the piano like the running water, and the guzheng like the rain passing in the storm," said Fayerabend.

CICO, a nonprofit organization jointly established by BU and the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts, is known for promoting Chinese opera and music, performing arts and culture on college campuses and in communities in the United States.

(Top Photo: Chen Yuxiao (R) performs the flute at a concert at Binghamton University in New York, the United States, March 7, 2019. /Xinhua Photo)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency