On New Year’Day in 2026, the Chime Bell Concert Hall of the Hubei Provincial Museum resonated with the harmonious blend of bells and chimes, carrying the lingering rhythm of Chu music far and wide. The New Year's concert, meticulously crafted by our museum’Chime-bells Orchestra, was performed across five consecutive sessions, offering audiences a spectacular cultural feast spanning time and space.
At this concert, the ensemble debuted original compositions such as Lacquer Affection, based on the traditional performance of chime bells. By integrating ancient instruments like the Chi (flute), Sheng (a reed mouth organ with pipes stuck into a gourd), Dizi (common horizontal flute), and Se (zither) and dance movements, the performance artistically interpreted the millennia-old heritage of lacquer craftsmanship. The classic pieces “Morning Music”and “Song of the Rain,”after being rearranged, now resonate with a renewed harmony that bridges ancient charm and contemporary expression. The dance piece Celebrating the New Year with Chu Music vividly showcases the New Year customs of the Chu region through its agile movements, conveying warm blessings for the coming year.
The performance, supported by an upgraded audio-visual system, delivered an enhanced sensory experience and refined stage artistry, thus earning acclaim from the audience. This performance was featured on page 6 of the People’s Dailyon January 1, 2026, showcasing the unique charm and modern vitality of Jing-Chu culture. Hubei Provincial Museum will remain committed to preserving, innovating, and promoting the outstanding traditional Chinese culture.
