In ancient China around 3,000 BC, bronze implements were specifically manufactured by the court for use in daily life as well as in rituals. Bronze artifacts, sometimes weighing tons, are considered the most sacred and majestic among other utensils to serve the gods and guests.
In a concert last night at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music celebrating the intangible cultural heritages now preserved in Shanghai, SCM composer Li Nixia presented Bronze Implements, a trio for sheng, zheng and percussions. In the music she transformed the enigmatic ritual practices into a heart-gripping journey that required both virtuosity and sensibility from the players.
The concert in total featured ten pieces, each delivered by a composer teaching or studying at SCM.
