Lisbon - 21st Chime international Chinese music research conference

The 21st Chime international conference on Chinese Music Research takes place in Lisbon, Portugal (9-13 May). The programme includes lectures, panels, films and concerts, co-organized by the Macau Scientific and Cultural Centre (CCCM) in Lisbon, the Ethnomusicology Institute of the New University of Lisbon, the Confucius Institute of the University of Lisbon and the Confucius Institute and the Departamento de Comunicação e Arte of the University of Aveiro as partners.

This year’s keynote speakers are Professor Alan Thrasher of the University of British Columbia, and Professor Tian Qing, Director of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Research and Protection Centre in Beijing.

The programme includes the European premiere of Helen Rees’ film documentary Playing the Flute in Shanghai: The Life and Art of Dai Shuhong (2017, 86 mins), as well as two recent short documentaries on folk song collecting and archiving at the National Taiwan Normal University.

Musical contributions to this year’s Chime event will amply reflect the theme of the meeting: Chinese music as cross-culture. In our music recitals we expect to host zheng player Han Mei and her Red Chamber Ensemble from Canada, as well as an extraordinary cooperation between lute players from two great world cultures: pipaist Gao Hong from Minnesota (one of the finest disciples of the great Lin Shicheng who also taught Wu Man), and Yair Dalal (on Arabian oud) from Israel. They will play duets, fully displaying the different characteristics of their own instruments, albeit (almost) without crossing daggers! Pipa player Xia Yuyan from Beijing and dancer Jiang Shaofeng from Dali (Yunnan) will demonstrate the compatibility of Chinese pipa with American tap dance, and more! Swedish guitarist Johannes Möller, living in Amsterdam but frequenting China, offers his own virtuoso perspective on Chinese folk tunes arranged or recomposed for guitar. Qin player He Yi from Beijing is equally at home in traditional Chinese opera and in the delicate art of guqin songs. In her delicate sung poems she builds intriguing bridges between both worlds. Last but not least, we present the fine art of Mongolian horsehead fiddler Qi Burigude.

The Opening Ceremony with music, keynote speeches and a cocktail party takes place on Wednesday 9 May (registration starts at 15:00 h). The registration fee is 120 Euros (80 Euros for students), to be paid in cash upon arrival. The fee covers a book of abstracts, attendance of concerts, a welcome dinner, three lunches, and full catering during coffee and tea breaks.

Around one hundred participants are expected, many with presentations, so the schedule for the paper sessions will be tight, and will include a poster session. See Chime website for full programme.