This morning, Chinese Culture tried jasmine tea in a mock tea ceremony. Then, our group ventured into Chinatown in Philadelphia, PA, to learn more about traditional Chinese music. We met with professors of traditional Chinese musical theory and performance. They had instruments resembling those original Chinese instruments that are 5000 years old and explained to us that Chinese music has five parts — folk sound, dance, song and dance, opera, and musical instruments. They then explained the multiple kinds of instruments, which included wind, percussion, string and bow, and more. There are 278 kinds of instruments, and we saw many of them there today!
In addition, we learned about the infusion of culture through traditional Chinese music. At any kind of Chinese ceremony, there is music. Music was traditionally very loud and played outside, and there were no indoor theaters. They demonstrated the sounds these instruments could make. We were treated to a performance with several traditional instruments and then were given the opportunity to try a few instruments ourselves.
Finally, our group then went into Chinatown to eat lunch in Bai Wei and also had some time to shop in the Chinatown markets and stores.
Charlotte and Catherine