In our 2025 Annual Concert, the Minnesota Huayue Music Ensemble invites audiences on a musical journey across China, exploring the vibrant traditions and diverse styles of regions from the lush southeast to the vast northwest. This special evening will celebrate the beauty of China’s cultural mosaic through timeless melodies and masterful performances.
✨ Cantonese Music (广东音乐)
Originating in Guangdong Province, this lively and spirited genre blends the elegance of Chinese tradition with Western influences. Known for its bright melodies and rhythmic vitality, Cantonese music often features the gaohu (高胡), yangqin (扬琴), and dizi (笛子), creating a cheerful and dynamic soundscape.
🌸 Jiangnan Music (秀美江南)
From the picturesque water towns of the Jiangnan region — including Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu — comes a music style renowned for its refined grace and lyrical flow. The delicate interplay of instruments evokes the tranquil waterways and poetic landscapes of the region, offering a serene and soulful listening experience.
🌄 Romance of the Western Regions (西域风情)
The concert journeys westward to the heart of China’s Silk Road, where centuries of cultural exchange have given rise to enchanting folk songs and dances. Influenced by the traditions of the Uyghur, Kazakh, and Tajik peoples, this music is rich in exotic rhythms and passionate melodies, capturing the spirit of the vast deserts and vibrant oases of Xinjiang and beyond.
🎶 Featured Artists
We are honored to present Jinghu(京胡) master Zhengang Xie and Yueqin(月琴)virtuoso Mei Hu， as well as Guzheng (古筝) master (Jiaxiang Li) and Gaohu(高胡) player Guangqing Liu， in their captivating duets that showcases the expressive depth of traditional Chinese string instruments.
The program also features solos on the Erhu (二胡), the flute (竹笛), and other traditional instruments, each bringing its own distinctive voice and storytelling power to the stage.
