Photo: Directorate for Cultural Heritage, Dag Myklebust

Music and song constitutes a significant part of the minority cultures in China. Some of the minority groups did not have their own written language until after 1950, and singing has been a part of their daily communication. Four young Chinese amateurs from the Guizhou province in China performed at the International Music Festival in Førde in 2004. The musicians were invited to Norway as an extension of an already established eco-museum cooperation between Norway and China, in which the collection, documentation and promotion of Dong music plays a part. The participants were selected among many talented young people from the Dong people in Liping county. Pan Xin Zhi (far right in the photo below) is one of them.

The Directorate for Cultural Heritage and Rikskonsertene have jointly and with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs contributed to linking the Chinese musicians with the Norwegian professional musicians Unni Løvdal (vocals), Terje Isungseth (percussion) and Frode Haltli (accordion). Together they have developed a new and exciting musical expression. This cooperation culminated in several concerts in China in 2005 in connection with the formal conclusion of the eco-museum project. The Sino-Norwegian group will be performing at different occasions this autumn, and will open the Oslo World Music Festival in November.