On the afternoon of October 26th, 2013, when the campus of Peking University is experiencing the picturesque autumn of Beijing, talented students from the Strings Association, Traditional Instruments Orchestra, Chinese Music Institute, Drum Circle, Accordion Association and Harmonica Association of Peking University, Philharmonic Society of the Primary School Attached to Peking University, and Classical Music Society of Beijing Foreign Studies University presented a cross-cultural musical feast for teachers and students by Weiming Lake. Vice Chair of the PKU Council Ye Jingyi, and other faculty members also attended the concert.
Before the concert officially starts, in the cello melody of Meditation, the performers and audience reserved three minutes of silence in tribute to the recently deceased professor Hou Renzhi, distinguished academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and eminent professor of Peking University.
This concert, having undergone a month of preparation, seeks to keep up the outstanding quality of the performing organizations, as well as to break different musical traditions in the aspect of the selection of tunes so as to make the music closer to the hearts and the lives of the people. The violin tune Dance Music of the Yao Nationality, which was written in the 1950s, draws material from the folk dance ballad and vividly represents the Yao people’s gaiety of dancing and singing through the means of orchestral music. Adapted by the Polish clarinetist Plo Hughes from folk music, the melody of Clarinet Polka sounded brisk and delicate when played using the harmonica during the concert. Besides, Humoreske was performed by students from the Classical Music Society of the Beijing Foreign Studies University. This piece, written by Antonín Leopold Dvořák in 1894, was very popular in the 19th century due to its light-hearted theme, cheerful mood and pulsating rhythm.
Students from Accordion Association of Peking University also gave a performance of the first movement of Winter, selected from Four Seasons composed by Antonio Lucio Vivaldi, manifesting a wintry scene when people would stomp back and forth to keep their body warm, with their teeth chattering due to the chilly wind. Table Music for Two, which was composed by Mozart, was performed by two dexterous students. They stood opposite each other beside a table with one music score lying on the table during the performance and each played from different ends of the score. This performance was unique and amazing, winning enthusiastic applauses from the audience.
Seven student drummers from the Drum Circle of Peking University then performed a tune from West Africa. The harmonious mixture of voices of the performers and the roll of drums instantly aroused the audience to sway with the rhythm. Gifted children from the Primary School Attached to Peking University presented two performances: Violin Concerto No.1 in A minor and Taiwan Folk Suite, which won thunderous applause from the audience. The rise and fall of melodious music and the roll of drums attracted students and teachers to stand still, immersing in the beautiful melody.
Both classical Western and traditional Eastern music performed during the whole concert. For instance, the audience can not only enjoy the wild rhythm of drums from Africa, but also appreciate the sweet and lingering music of tango from Latin America. Unceasing applause filled the concert at its climax in the lively atmosphere. Many in the audience felt that it was a pity when the final tune came to an end. A retired professor from the School of Archaeology and Museology of Peking University deliberately found the student who was in charge of the concert and conveyed his feeling of gratification. “I have never heard music by Weiming Lake.” he said, “It is a real pleasure to watch such a wonderful performance here, and also such amazement! I think such form of activity is very beneficial, bringing music into the lives of students and teachers. I sincerely hope that this concert will subsequently attract more students to enjoy great music.”
After the concert, Professor Ye Jingyi took a group photo with the young performers to mark this occasion. She remarked that the Lakeside Concert was very novel—— it provided a platform for various societies and student organizations to interact with and learn from each other, and it also offered a chance for all students in Peking University to be exposed to high art. Eventually, she expressed her hope that students in PKU could initiate more means of innovation, organize more activities like “Lakeside Concert”, and lead new trends on campus.
The “Lakeside Concert” is a successful attempt which brought together various music associations to cooperate, receiving considerable attention and attaining favorable comments. Peking University has attached great importance to the education of fine arts, and the tradition of promoting the spread of beautiful music has also been cherished for long. Music styles in PKU are original, and students are always trying to enrich the content and means of activities, while advancing the development of campus culture at the same time. The concept of harmony and humanism embodied in the music of the concert is delivered to and presented by this generation of Peking University students, who have showcased not only music, but also their keen minds and dreams of youth.
Written by Zhang Jiaxin
Updated: May 19, 2014
