Richard Wagner: Music is like an ideal bond linking up human beings.
Robert Schumann: Listen carefully to all folk music, because they are the treasure containing the most beautiful melody; they can broaden your horizon and sharpen your insights into various national character types.
“I will listen to it again and again and again and again.” Said by a 4-year-old girl holding Chinese music DVD in hands after the performance.
On May 7th, 2014, The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) officially launched the "Qin-Tai" Project at the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, USA. The project aims to promote understanding and enhance friendship between China and the rest of the world through music and cultural exchanges.
On the evening of the launching ceremony, eight classic pieces of traditional Chinese music transported the audience to the spectacular territory of Chinese culture. The traditional Chinese musical instruments on display such as the Guqin, Erhu, Bamboo flute, Pipa, Ruan, Sheng were masterfully played by 18 excellent artists. The repertoire performed brought the essence and classic charm of Chinese music to life, receiving great applause from the audience after the hour long performance.
The performance won applause and cheering from the audiende every now and then during the performance, showing their great respect to Chinese music.
On the evening of May 8th, New York City was glittering with sunset glow. “Qin-Tai” came to the terrace of Goldman Sachs headquarters. Players from China National Orchestra brought a breathtaking performance to over 150 Wall Street elites by playing seven classic Chinese music pieces.
The name “Qin-Tai” originated from a Chinese music-related story "high mountain and running water", which refers to understanding and appreciative friends. It is said that Yu Boya was a music master who used to play music at Qin-Tai. Woodcutter Zhong Ziqi heard and well-understood Yu's music. As a result, they became confidants. Time flies, when Yu acknowledged that Zhong died of illness, he was so sad that he crashed his piano in front of Zhong’s grave and never played piano since. By coincidence, when playing The Battle of Chu in Goldman Sachs, while Pipa player immersed in the music, one string was broken. The audience cannot help feeling that it recalled the story, and it recalled the original intension of “Qin-Tai” project -- forming friends around the world through music.
As the last piece ended, the audience stood up and gave a standing ovation to performers. John Rogers, Manager Director of Goldman Sachs, said emotionally: “trees cannot grow into the sky, but music can！”
"Qin-Tai", the people to people diplomacy project formally launched in Atlanta, USA by CPAFFC during "the 1ST Sino-US Media Round Table" , which was jointly organized by CPAFFC and the Information Office of the State Council of the P.R China.
“Qin-Tai” was launched in The World of Coca-Cola, a place that collects the 125-year-old secret recipe, and then it entered Goldman Sachs headquarters, the world’s modernest skyscraper. Chinese music, with more than 2000 years history, open the ancient and classic picture in the foreign lands. When classic met modern, east met west, culture was interchanged, and spark was gained.
We expect "Qin-Tai" to bring the essence and elegance of Chinese music as well as the beauty and depth of Chinese culture to every corner of the world. We hope it will spread understanding of China’s splendid culture and help us tell the world our "China Dream" story through traditional Chinese music.
