An exchange concert was convened to showcase the recent advancements in the process of sinicizing sacred music within the ecclesiastical context of Guangzhou, Guangdong.
The Guangzhou Christian Council and Three-Self Patriotic Movement (CC&TSPM) orchestrated a concert dedicated to sinicized sacred music exchange, held at Zion Church on August 19th. The event garnered participation from a collective of approximately 600 attendees, inclusive of representatives from the pastoral echelons of Guangzhou CC&TSPM, as well as adherents and choir members from churches within Guangzhou.
Bringing together choirs from across the municipality, the organizers of this concert selected some original sacred music compositions, authored by composers and Christians hailing from the province of Guangdong. These compositions meld traditional cultural elements with the distinctive attributes emblematic of the Lingnan (Southern China) region, thus paying homage to Chinese traditional culture through the medium of music.
Rev. Guo Yun, chairman of Guangzhou TSPM, articulated in his address that the ecclesiastical community in Guangzhou aspires to employ sinicized lyrics alongside time-honored melodies as a conduit for conveying the aesthetic nuances inherent in the musical expression of Christianity, as well as its spiritual and existential dimensions.
Adhering to the central theme of "Sinicization of Christianity," the program encompassed the presentation of more than ten original compositions, the handiwork of both Guangdong-based composers and devout individuals from the Guangzhou community. The presentation unfolded through the mediums of choral arrangements, operatic renditions, instrumental performances, and traditional Chinese dance.
An additional noteworthy aspect of the concert involved a piano duet, wherein two individuals performed in tandem. The composition chosen for this segment was crafted by Rev. Lin Shengben, a distinguished composer of sacred music hailing from Guangdong.
- Translated by Cassie Li
