Masters of western music coach in Xiamen
By Vivian Zhang
Photos by Yao Fan



美国排名第一的伊斯曼音乐学院演出讲学团一行6人上周光临本市,拉开了"2004鼓浪屿-美国音乐周"的序幕.无论是在舞台上,还是在学生中,大师们所表现的全面高深的音乐素养令人折服.

Ranking as the top music academy in the U.S., the Eastman School of Music enjoys high prestige in the world. Last Wednesday, a faculty group from the school consisting of 6 master musicians arrived in Xiamen, the first stop of their China tour. During the American Music Week held on Gulangyu, their master classes and performances at the Gulangyu Music Hall enabled local music majors to get a close touch with the best form of classical music art.

Close links with China
The professors were having supper at the hotel when we first met. It was a bit strange to see that all the group members were deft at using chopsticks as if they were born with the skill. More fascinating than that is that when they visited the Gulangyu Piano Museum, John Graham met his former roommate Hu Youyi, the donator of all the pianos, who happened to be at the same school as him more than thirty years ago.

The organizer of the tour, Professor Fernando Laires told the reporter that it might be the 12th or 13th time that he has come to China, and surely not the first time for most of the others. Professor Laires has given master classes and lectures at conservatories of music in Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan and other cities. "Chinese students are extremely hard working. They possess work ethic and in general, they tend to be musical. Their capacity for success is extraordinary."

He had a sound reason to say so. Eastman has enrolled Chinese students, some of whom are real geniuses. According to Professor Laires, Xu Hong, a sophomore from Wuhan, China, got the highest score ever in the piano department and Li Zhe, one of his students, has just finished her doctorate in piano. Of course, we should never forget that Xu Feiping(许斐平), the Gulangyu born pianist and a pride of the Xiamen people, who unfortunately passed away in the prime of his life, was also a graduate from Eastman.

"I am fond of Chinese people. That's why I keep coming back." Laires said.

A big gain for Xiamen music majors
Apart from world-renowned musicians, those six masters are also regarded as great music educators. Active as adjudicators and lecturers, they gave master classes throughout the United States and other foreign countries. Many of their students also have won prizes in major competitions.

They took to Gulangyu immediately after arrival and spoke highly of the unique musical environment of it. "Music is everywhere on this island. Fascinating are those loud speakers disguised as a rock or a bench that give off wonderful background music." During their after-dinner-stroll, they would stop every now and then at sounds of piano from households nearby and comment on it even though it was far from perfect.

In their points of view, people are born with qualities, and it is the task of teachers to find and develop them. That is why they attach much importance to each class and lecture they give.
A Chinese associate professor who attended the vocal master class given by Robert Swensen, exclaimed that Robert Swensen sang as beautifully as Pavarotti. Some other students claimed that right after the master corrected their way of singing they made immediate improvement.

On the next day, many students in the Jimei University asked for leave and came all the way to Gulangyu to attend piano master classes. "It is quite worthwhile." Chen, a female student said.
Gao Jie, a Xiamen University student was lucky to be chosen to play in front of Douglas Humpherys, the Co-Chair of the Piano Department in Eastman. "The master gave very detailed instructions on playing techniques and even playing postures, which will be so helpful for my future practicing." She said after class.

Although time was very limited during their one-week-stay, Xiamen students and teachers felt they had gained a lot from their coach and performances.

More local involvement anticipated
Zhu Yafen(朱雅芬), whose name isn't unfamiliar to Chinese people, took up the role as the only translator in this activity. She is the first teacher of Lang Lang, a youth pianist hailed as the biggest, most exciting keyboard talent in years in the world. Acclaimed as the best translator on music in China, Zhu conveyed accurately the instructions of the masters to Xiamen students and was greatly commended and respected by both parties.

"Those masters are of the top level in their field and what they have demonstrated to us is the very best of western music. It is a rare opportunity that everyone who is engaged in a music profession should not miss. Xiamen has done a good job in universal music education through efforts from organizations like the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra. However, I hope Xiamen would put more importance on high-level international music exchanges. After all, Gulangyu has a first class piano museum and it needs to be matched with first class recitals and musicians, which are so vital for Xiamen. "

"I am looking forward to more Xiamen people's involvement in high level international musical events in the future." Ms. Zhu concluded.

Message Board

Luo Zhong Calligraphy Exhibition
罗钟书法展
Venue: the first floor, Xiamen Library
地点:厦门市图书馆一楼
Time: May 15-20
时间:5月15日至20日

"Picture·Reality" Gu Yue paintings exhibition
顾跃《图像·现实》油画展
Venue: the Chinese European Art Center, Xiamen University
地点:厦大中国欧洲艺术中心
Time: May 14-23
时间:5月14日至23日

Concert by the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra
厦门爱乐音乐会
Time: 19:30, May 21
时间:5月21日晚19:30
Director: Hou Runyu
(the Headmaster of Xiamen Music School)
指挥:侯润宇
(厦门音乐学校校长)
Venue: Music Island Philharmonic Hall, Wanshou Lu at 67 Wenyuan Lu
地点:万寿路口文园路67号音乐岛爱乐厅

Paycheck 致命报酬



Director: John Woo
导演:吴宇森
Starred: Ben Affleck
主演:本·阿弗莱克
Plot outline: What seemed like a breezy idea for an engineer to net him millions of dollars, leaves him running for his life and piecing together why he's being chased.
This blockbuster will soon be shown at Jinying Cinema on May 20.
5月20日金鹰影院原声上映!
Venue: Jinying Cinema, on the western side of the 5th floor of Shimao Commercial Building
地点: 金鹰影院,世贸商城5楼西侧
Tel: 0592-5815000