The Yuzhen Jinsheng Yayue Orchestra of Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU) kicked off its first-ever world tour in Zhuhai on 19 April 2025. Over the coming months, the ensemble will visit Boston and New York in the US, and Hong Kong and Macao in China. On the same day, BNBU also signed a cooperation agreement with the Nanyue King Museum.
BNBU signs a cooperation agreement with the Nanyue King Museum
Representative of the university: Acting Dean of the School of General Education Prof Guo Haipeng (right)
Representative of the museum: Secretary of Party General Branch Ms Hou Fangyun
For this tour, the Orchestra has prepared 14 programmes, showcasing the elements of instruments, rites, and dances of ancient China, echoing the dust of time, while transporting the audience back to the centuries past, when, in courtly ritual, the bells would chime, and drums would hum.
Yayue, a system of music and dance used in conjunction with traditional Chinese rituals, holds national and societal symbolic significance within the realm of music, serving as a comprehensive expression of ritual culture.
"The university has been rooted in the fertile ground of Chinese cultural heritage while embracing the ideals of international liberal arts education, and this ensemble has become a vital emblem of our cultural mission", said BNBU President Prof Chen Zhi, and he hoped to promote the essence of Chinese culture to the world through the delicate rhythms and melodies.
BNBU President Prof Chen Zhi
Officially established in 2018, the Yuzhen Jinsheng Yayue Orchestra comprises a band, a dance team, and a drum team. It has brougnt together around 100 students from diverse academic backgrounds, united by their shared passion for Chinese culture.
Prof Chou Chunyi, Consultant of the BNBU Yuzhen Jinsheng Yayue Orchestra shared that recreating the ancient music of the Qin and Han dynasties has been a deeply challenging yet rewarding process. He described the experience as dreamlike and unprecedented in scope.
Consultant of the BNBU Yuzhen Jinsheng Yayue Orchestra Prof Chou Chunyi
Dr Yeh Chia-ying, the Orchestra's Chief Director, explained that students receive classroom instruction in ancient ritual music and aesthetics, and are encouraged to engage in practical research, such as interpreting historical texts and reconstructing traditional music and dance, to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural significance behind the rituals.
Chief Director of the BNBU Yuzhen Jinsheng Yayue Orchestra Dr Yeh Chia-ying
Regarding their upcoming performances, she noted that while the performances will retain their original design, more visual elements will be introduced to help global audiences better appreciate and engage with the ancient art form.
From MPRO
Reporter: Cecilia Yu
Photographer: Hanna He
