Even if you don’t understand the lyrics, a Beijing (Peking) opera performance is fascinating, with its traditional music, songs, dances, mime, acrobatics, colourful costumes and elaborate makeup. We first viewed the art form in Beijing. The cast depicted folkloric and historical themes involving emperors, empresses, servants, clowns, marriages and sword-wieldingmartial artists. You can also see performances in Taiwan, Hong Kong and in some international Chinese communities. Beijing (Peking) opera performance Bouzouki musician Rajasthani men create music with an earthenware pot & a 17-string kamaicha Anyone who has heardRiverdance music will recall the sound of bodhrans (also called Celtic drums or Irish frame drums). They vary in size, but they all have bentwood frames and goatskin playing surfaces. Musicians hold the drums vertically on their knees and strike them up and down with sticks. At times, their hands move so quickly that they blur. By positioning their hands in different locations inside the drum, they create different tones. Some people claim that the bodhran sounds like an Irish heartbeat. Others say that it’s more like a sack of potatoes tumbling down the stairs. The Irish harp is another remarkable instrument that we heard in Ireland. We’ll never forget the enchanting melodies of Greensleeves and Danny Boy that tugged at our emotions as the musician plucked the harp’s strings. In the Indian state of Rajasthan, most musicians don’t have formal musical training. Fathers pass on their instruments and the techniques for playing them to their sons. One highlight of our visit was the folk music created by a man blowing into an earthenware pot, while a fellow musician played a 17-string bowed instrument called a kamaicha. Themusic played on an ancient sarangi — a broad-necked fiddle carved froma single piece of wood — was equally mesmerizing. A mustached man played a morchang (jaw harp) to create a realistic rendition of the sound of a train. He appeared to be playing his mustache. Bouzouki music is synonymous withGreece. We enjoyed traditional folk music played on these longnecked lutes in Greek tavernas and at festivals. Invariably, the fast-paced music motivates listeners to dance. The syrtaki is one of the most popular dances, doneZorba the Greek-style with outstretched arms thrown across each other’s shoulders. China Greece India Ireland 18 | www.snowbirds.org Travel
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