Feel the Positive Energy in Percussion Music
Chow Fan-fu
Based in Xinjiang County of the Shanxi Province, the Shanxi Jiangzhou Drum Troupe is a rare gem in the world of percussion music. Their performances are both inspiring and exhilarating, often eliciting standing ovations and waves of resounding applause among Western audiences. It is as if the pulsating drum beats have utterly shattered all cultural barriers.
Mystic vibes from the Loess Plateaux down the millennia
The powerful allure of the positive energy exuded by the Jiangzhou Drum Troupe’s performances is no doubt rooted in Shanxi’s long history of percussion music – a culture accumulated over millennia since the Western Jin period, as well as a tradition developed through generations over the centuries. The region is considered to be the birthplace of the Chinese nation, from the legendary Yao and Shun periods through to the advent of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties. Of particular significance is that the brilliance and dominance of the Jin Dynasty originated on the alluvial loess soils of Shanxi. It is small wonder that there is a popular saying, “Visit Shanxi for 5,000 years of Chinese history.” Some years ago, I did just that. I went and travelled from north to south of Shanxi. Even though it was rather cursory, I was nonetheless convinced that to really understand Chinese culture, to truly get to know Chinese history, and (for a Chinese national) to thoroughly discover his/her roots, one should start with seeing Shanxi.
The Jinnan (southern Shanxi) area was one of the cradles of primeval drum culture, and Jiangzhou (the present Xinjiang County in the Yuncheng municipality) is the catchall where percussion music flourished and grew. Consequently, one can always find drumming families in Jinnan Jiangzhou, with generations of players hailing from the rustic farming folk there. When they perform on the world stage, the demeanour of the drummers and the majestic drum sounds are a rare and awesome experience. Further, Shanxi is also a ‘melting pot’ of tea, wine and vinegar production in China. In fact, some believe that fenjiu is the original alcoholic beverage that provided the foundation for the local liquor brewing industry, and that the national wine of China, Guizhou Maotai, is one of fenjiu’s derivatives. Elements of the local tea, wine and vinegar cultures are invariably infused into the development of the drum tradition in Jinnan too. As such, it is indeed with good reason that Jiangzhou’s drum culture is often seen as a treasure of Chinese music heritage, encompassing the very essence of Shanxi culture.
Three conditions for energetic positivity
Percussion naturally supports a rich variety of rhythms and has the capacity to convey an entire spectrum of complex emotions. Drum beats were employed as communicative signals in ancient battle fields, and nowadays they are essential in most celebratory activities. The bold rhythm and distinctive melody of percussion music emanate energy and a sense of excitement. Precisely for this reason, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra organised the 2003 Drum Festival to utilize percussion music as the source of positive energy to motivate residents of Hong Kong after the devastating SARS outbreak in the territory. Fifteen years have passed, and the drum festival has evolved into an international event in HKCO’s annual calendar, bringing together percussion groups big and small from all over the world in a cultural exchange showcasing positive energy.
The Shanxi Jiangzhou Drum Troupe comes with a long history and a distinct tradition. It has established its own unique performing style. The forcefulness, passion, rusticity, and excitement of their music is readily felt by an audience, easily drawn in by the unrestrained vitality of the troupe’s protean style of art.
However, for the Shanxi Jiangzhou Drum Troupe to surpass their already impressive accomplishments and deliver yet another breakthrough performance of energetic positivity, three conditions have to be met. First, every single member of the group must continue to immerse themselves 100% in delivering every performance. Second, the music has to be updated to meet current aesthetic requirements, so that it resonates emotively with today’s audience. This is a must-have element, whether with traditional folk music or a modern original piece. The programme for the upcoming concert (which includes the world premiere compositions of Strings and Drums Resonating, Rousing Drums for Hearts of the Brave, and The Phoenix Dancing in the Fire) would satisfy this condition. Third, the audience - just like the performers - also need to be 100% immersed in the music in order to experience the exhilaration of the concert’s positive energy. Cell phones should be turned off, trivialities of daily life set aside. Let those on stage be encouraged by the enthusiasm of those in the auditorium. It is only then can the immense positive energy of the performance be fully released.
So, let us make an effort to bring forth this power together! 
