The ESV fourth-year class is excited to announce a concert by Xiaojing Ma, playing the Chinese hammered dulcimer, called the yangqin. Xiaojing Ma has had a lifelong connection to this instrument that has a long history of sounding the music of many cultures. All of us at ESV are thrilled to have the opportunity to hear the music of the yangqin played by Xiaojing Ma in support of the 4th-year trip to Dornach, Switzerland, in June 2023. Please join us at this concert, filled with qualities rarely heard in the beautiful acoustics of the Threefold Auditorium.
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The Chinese dulcimer is a percussion-stringed instrument. Its Chinese name is yangqin (pronounced "yahng-cheen"). It used to be written with the characters 洋琴, meaning "foreign zither," but over time the first character changed to 揚 (also pronounced "yáng"), which means "acclaimed."
The trapezoidal Chinese hammered dulcimer, derived from the Iranian santur. It originated from Europe by the 16th century. Then it was introduced to southern coastal China through Silk Roads at the end of the Ming dynasty (around AD 1600). This instrument was well adopted and popularized throughout the whole of China at Qing dynasty. The revolutionized yangqin that we know today is twelve-tone equal temperament. The most common model consists of 144 steel strings, and its hammers are made of flexible bamboo with a thin layer of rubber on the head.
Hammered dulcimers of various types are now very popular not only in China, but also in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, India, Iran, and Pakistan. The instruments are also sometimes known by the names santoor and cimbalom.
Xiaojing Ma was born in Shanghai, China. She started learning Chinese hammered dulcimer from being 5 years old. After graduating from East China Normal University, she has over ten years of working experience as a program director and educator in multiple non-profit organizations, including Shanghai Power Station of Art, Long Museum West Bund, Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation, and Shanghai Hand in Hand Life Hospice Care Center.
After work, she used to be a Chinese hammered dulcimer performer in Shanghai Jasmine Folk Orchestra and an independent Chinese hammered dulcimer instructor. Her performances include: Shanghai Concert Hall, Shanghai Symphony Concert Hall, Shanghai Heluting Concert Hall, Kuopio Music Center, Empire State Building, New York University, The Fellowship Community, Green Meadow Waldorf School, Sunbridge Institute.
Xiaojing is currently pursuing a diploma in Waldorf Elementary Teacher Education at Sunbridge Institute. She has completed the Sound Healing Program from the Open Center New York. She is passionate about promoting integrative education and Chinese cultural innovation.
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A BENEFIT FOR THE DORNACH FUND OF THE 4TH-YEAR STUDENTS!
Suggested Donations for Tickets:
$20 (regular)
$12 (students and seniors)
Suggested donations can be made in person at the event.
You can also make them in advance,
by clicking on the links above.
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For more information, please email bdeury@aol.com.