The World Ethnic Musical Instruments Exhibition opened in Hubei Provincial Museum on November 16 with "Heart and Tune" as its main theme. More than 200 examples of national musical instruments from all over the world are on display to visitors.

Indonesian royal Gamelan

The exhibition is being held under the auspices of Hubei Provincial Museum and Shanghai Musical Conservatory, assisted by Hubei Provincial Cultural Office and the Art Education Committee of Hubei Provincial Education Office. Various instruments can be seen at the exhibition, such as xylophones from Africa, Indian flutes, Thai bottle drums, Japanese zither, Indonesian royal Gamelan and many musical instruments from Chinese minorities.

According to an employee, the museum is well known for its musical relics, for example the well-known Chime Bell of Zenghou Yi, whose history can be traced back to the 5th century BC. Documented musical theory and practice are much more available than recorded literature. Only through placing Chinese music in the context of world culture and comparing it with others, can its features, values and historical status be truly appreciated.

The exhibition will last from November 16, 2008 to January 10, 2009, covering 7 branch themes: Soul of Africa, Song of Latin America, Harmony and Uniqueness, Dance of India, Tone of Elegance, Rhyme of Tang(618-907)and Song(960-1279) and Sound of China.

(China.org.cn by Fan Junmei & Xiang Bin, November 17, 2008)