The 2003 TMSK Chinese Traditional Chamber Music Composition Competition started accepting entries last week. The contest has been organized by Chinese Musicians' Association, Shanghai Conservatory of Music and sponsored by Liuli Gongfang, one of China's best-known artistic glass studios.
Composers from both home and abroad can take part in the competition with chamber pieces played on two to six traditional Chinese instruments within eight minutes.
The deadline for applications is June 20, 2003.
Wu Zuqiang, one of China's most renowned composers, and Zhou Wenzhong, composer and professor at Colombia University, will be on the jury, alongside other celebrated musicians.
Chinese music is filled with the history and charm of centuries of legend and mystery, and marked with the deep imprint of Chinese philosophy.
In recent years, many contemporary Chinese musicians have turned to Western music. Critics call for more attention to the development of traditional art.
Last year, Liuli Gongfang sponsored a series of chamber music concerts in Shanghai, which appealed to many music fans, including the younger generation.
"We found that traditional Chinese music still interests many people today, but the problem is some old pieces are popular, while there are too few newly-composed pieces," said Loretta Hui-shan Yang, owner of Liuli Gongfang.
"I hope the competition will be a way to promote the composition of traditional music which should be in a contemporary style while retaining classic flavours," said Wu.
(China Daily December 26, 2002)
