VOA标准英语2010年-Musical Exchange Brings Harmony to One

The largest cultural exchange ever between the United States and Vietnam wrapped up last month in California.  Classically trained musicians from Vietnam and the United States performed together in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in March, and again in Los Angeles in April and May.  The project was funded by a grant from the U.S. State Department.  Participants say that music bridged their differences in language and culture.

Vietnamese musician demonstrates Bau at a California high school

A Vietnamese musician demonstrated a traditional instrument called the dan bau at a school in suburban¹ Los Angeles.

She is one of 19 Vietnamese musicians who were in California for performances and workshops with musicians from Southwest Chamber² Music, an Emmy-award winning group based in California, where Jeff von der Schmidt is artistic³ director.  He grew up when the United States was at war with Vietnam in the 1960s and '70s.

"And the idea that I'm doing this can still, in fact, make me a little teary eyed and make me very emotional, make me very happy about the fact that we're able to write a new chapter in music between our two countries," von der Schmidt said.

The project is called the Ascending⁴ Dragon Music Festival and Cultural Exchange.  It commemorates⁵ the 15-year anniversary of the normalization⁶ of diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam in 1995.  With the earlier performances in Vietnam, the musicians also helped celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi.

Vietnamese violinist Nguyen Thu Binh

Vietnamese violinist Nguyen Thu Binh says the exchange has gone well.

She says there have been no problems so far because music is a universal language.  She adds that the musicians were having fun playing American and Vietnamese music together.

In addition to Western and Vietnamese classics, the performers presented two new compositions by American composers and two by Vietnamese composers, including Vu Nhat Tan from Hanoi.

"There are no borders between us because we just use music, and there are no language (problems), we just (use) music and sound," Tan said.  "

Southwest Chamber Music's executive director, Jan Karlin, says the participants had an immediate⁷ rapport⁸.

"We're all playing together as colleagues, and if more of that went on, I think there'd be less wars in this world," Karlin said.  

Southwest Chamber Music's Jeff von der Schmidt says the exchange highlights a saying of Confucius that is popular in Asia.

"Which is that the greatest happiness is when a friend has traveled to visit you from a far-away land," von der Schmidt said.  "And so we have felt that with the Vietnamese coming to the United States and all of our players felt that going to Hanoi.  So I don't think this is a project that is going to stop."

In addition to concerts and performances at schools, the musicians took part in workshops on the management of non-profit arts institutions, to see how groups like Southwest Chamber Music apply for and receive grants from foundations, corporations and government agencies. 

Von der Schmidt says all these activities have created a musical bridge between the two countries.
 

1 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

2 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

3 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

4 ascending   

adj.上升的，向上的

参考例句：

• Now draw or trace ten dinosaurs in ascending order of size.现在按照体型由小到大的顺序画出或是临摹出10只恐龙。

5 commemorates   

n.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的名词复数 )v.纪念，庆祝( commemorate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A tombstone is erected in memory of whoever it commemorates. 墓碑是为纪念它所纪念的人而建的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A tablet commemorates his patriotic activities. 碑文铭记他的爱国行动。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

6 normalization   

n.（normalisation）正常化，标准化

参考例句：

• The visit signalled the normalization of relations between the two countries.这次访问显示两国关系已经正常化。
• He was pleased to the normalization of relationship between the police and the people.他很高兴警方和人民之间关系的正常化。

7 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

8 rapport   

n.和睦，意见一致

参考例句：

• She has an excellent rapport with her staff.她跟她职员的关系非常融洽。
• We developed a high degree of trust and a considerable personal rapport.我们发展了高度的互相信任和不错的私人融洽关系。