Western Music and the music and poetry of Zen
——The Confucius Institute Day Concert organized by the Confucius Institute of Artois and City of Arras

From 29, September to 3, October, the 2017 World Confucius Institute Day serial activities of the Confucius Institute of Artois lasted for five days. Jointly organized by UNESCO, the Confucius Institute of Artois, and Beijing Normal University, the series comprises three parts: an international conference entitled “Confucius Teaching for the Development of Sustainable Peace: Cultures and music in Contact”, a concert themed the music and poetry of Zen, and a conference entitled "Well-Being in Chinese Thought".

At the evening of the 30th of September 2017, a concert dedicated to the fourth World Confucius Institute Day was held by the Confucius Institute of Artois. Theming “Zen”, the renowned French-Chinese pianist Chou Ching Ling, along with famous violinist Olivier Charlier, presented their wonderful music in Le beffroi d'Arras, the City Hall of Arras. Mr. Denise Bocquillet, the first vice-mayor of Arras, Mr. Tampalawela Dhammaratana, a Consultant and the Director of Buddhist Links at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, Mr. León Vandermeersch, a well-known sinologist, Professor WANG Ning, GONG Xiaoping of Bejing Normal， Professor WANG Bangwei of Beijing University, Mr. Pasquale Mammone, the president of the University of Artois, Mr. Francis Marcoin, a former president of the University of Artois, as well as 100 audience attended the concert. The concert was hosted by Professor Jin Siyan, a commissioner of Artois University and the director of the Confucius Institute of Artois.

Pianist Chou Ching Ling

The pianist and the violinist

The concert began with piano solo Farewell, performed by Mrs. Chou. The amazing presentation lead the audience into the wonderful world of Zen. Following the finishing tone of the solo, violinist Olivier Charlier ascended to the stage with charming elegance. Together with Mrs Chou, the two musicians presented to the audience 12 classic piece: The joyful Mélodie du Ballet des Ombres Heureuses, and the passionate Sicilienne of Johann Sebastian Bach, the soothing Souvenir d’un lieu cher-Mélodie of Tchaikovsky, the thoughtful Yestardy’s Life, and Life of Tomorrow, and the Bohemian style Souvenir of Frantisek Drdla, the miraculous presentations induced the audience into a miraculous territory of romantic. And the sacredness of Ave maria, the euphoniousness of Méditation de Tha?s, and Après un rêve, lifted all listeners from our earthly life into the Zen space. During the intermission of the music performance, Mrs. JIN Siyan recited the poem “Farewell” by Hongyi and long poem “Ancestors and children”. The finale of the concert was a 15 minutes incessant performance of the Chinese masterpiece The Butterfly Lovers. The concert thus reached its climax and perfect ending.

The scene of the concert

The scene of the concert

The Zen concert gave all the attendees a impressive and indescribable mental shock. This concert was specially designed for this year's World Confucius Institute Day. Combined with Chinese and Western cultures and in the perspective of transcultural dimension, the preparation of this concert lasted five months. This is the thoughtful fashion that the Confucius Institute of Artois show its honor, respect and appreciation to the citizens, the local government, Artois University, the Chinese and French students, and all other participants of this transcultural dialogue.

Group Photo

Edition: Wu Zhaoyang; Photos: LIU Man