Folk music and dance debut in Chicago's iconic Millennium Park, showcasing cultural diversity

Source: Xinhua| 2018-06-16 07:33:42|Editor: zh
Video PlayerClose

CHICAGO, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Folk musicians and artists from Chinese, Indian and African communities held Wednesday night a concert themed "Chicago: Immigrant Stories", displaying their rich musical cultures of Chicago's distinct immigrant communities at the iconic Millennium Park in Chicago.

These artists and Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra culminated with applause and cheering from hundreds of spectators at the Pritzker Pavilion stage of iconic Millennium Park in Chicago.

Three Chinese folk musicians Kerry Leung, Guan Menghua and Li Guanglong performed traditional Chinese music with their favourite musical instruments.

By using bamboo flute, Kerry Leung performed Fantasy on Journey to Gusu, Guan Menghua played Fantasy on Fighting Typhoon on Chinese zither, while Li Guanglong performed Fantasy on Horse Racing on Erhu.

Other than three Chinese folk musicians, artists from Indian and African community also displayed their unique music and dance.

"Chicago: Immigrant Stories" is initiated by Orbert Davis, artistic director of Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Orchestra. He forged a series of collaborations with musicians of Chinese, West African, and South Asian descent, representing the rich musical cultures of Chicago's distinct immigrant communities.

"The one thing that will be phenomenal is that the audience will see a representation of true cultural diversity - they'll witness it, and they'll hear it," says Davis. "I hope that the end result will be that when the audience look at themselves, they'll see that they're the same. Because the things that make us who we are, are behind our skin."

"In this concert, I see music, dance; the artists use flute, Chinese zither, drum to tell stories of different communities. The stories serve as a bridge of friendship and love between us," Michelle Garcia, an female audience told Xinhua.

TOP STORIES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOST VIEWED
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011100001372573881