Generating pride in Taiwan
In 2000, Taipei Arts International Association held a six-day “Taiwan World Music Festival” in Taipei, inviting singers and instrumentalists from Greece, Belgium and Hungary to perform music that blended traditional and popular styles.
The World Music Festival, organized by the Ministry of Culture, made its debut in 2015, and in 2016 attracted more than 30,000 delighted music fans. “I wanted to forge a music festival that belongs to the entire population, enabling family members, lovers, married couples and friends to enjoy a shared memory,” says Yu Su-ying, her eyes shining.
And now it’s time for World Music Festival Taiwan 2017, with the slogan “move your body, music your life.” On stage or off, there are no barriers. As long as you let yourself go, take off on the wings of musical dreams, immerse yourself in the joy of taking part and share in the writing of a common music of life.
This event mixing the intellectual with the emotional has attracted the attention of many notable figures in the world of music. Among the official activities are presentations by the curators of such events and institutions as the World Music Expo (WOMEX), Australia’s WOMADelaide, Japan’s Okinawan Festival, mainland China’s Folk on the Road music festival, the Center for the Art of Performance at the University of California, Los Angeles, and New Mexico’s annual celebration of world music and culture, ¡Globalquerque!
These international presentations bring new musical values and open up new and otherwise inaccessible horizons, giving Taiwan an opportunity to breathe diverse musical scents from other terrains. “Taiwan too has many treasures of music and art, which other regions struggle to rival.” So says a confident Yu Su-ying, who has been deeply involved in local music for many years.
May this musical jamboree enable the uniqueness and preciousness of Taiwan’s traditional music and art to shine brightly and warmly, displaying new local talent. May it be passed from Taiwan to the world, to create pride and vibes that will always be Taiwan’s!
A stunningly virtuosic performance by Shan Ren Band of China’s Yunnan Province. Music originates in culture, and even very minor musical traditions have their historical significance.
A stunningly virtuosic performance by Shan Ren Band of China’s Yunnan Province. Music originates in culture, and even very minor musical traditions have their historical significance.
The World Music Festival promotes traditional musicians from Taiwan to the world. Pictured here are Yen Yung-neng and his band, Takao Run.
The members of the Paiwan band Boxing are in tune with the world music beat. (photo by Chuang Kung-ju)
The 2015 Spring Wave Music and Art Festival at the old Wuliting Airport in Hengchun. (photo by Jimmy Lin)