Lecture in Tianjin

Yesterday I gave a lecture at the Conservatory of Music in Tianjin. I was invited by my friend Professor Fang Jianjun, who is the leader of the musicology department and also the Vice president of the Conservatory.

It was a pleasure, and it and was attended by a lot of interested students and teachers. The topic of my lecture was jew’s harps, with special emphasis on the Asian/Chinese roots of the instrument. I must say that it felt a bit special and strange to speak about Chinese music and instruments for Chinese people. But the lecture was well received, and the students responded with interesting questions and comments.

It was also very interesting for me to experience the cultural and material differences between Norwegian and Chinese education institutions. The buildings, offices and teaching rooms are much bigger here than at home.

Tianjin is situated about 35 minutes with high-speed train southeast of Beijing, near the coast. It is a rather large city, with around 11 million inhabitants, according to Wikipedia.

The interpreter Kong Weifeng (left), Professor Fang Jinajun (in the middle) and me, in the corridors of the conservatory. Photo by Mao Yue.

Photo by Mao Yue

Official moment after the lecture, with Professor Fang Jianjun, the Vice president of the Conservatory in Tianjin. Photo by Mao Yue.

In Tianjin I bought an erhu, a Chinese bowed instrument with two strings.