The Chime-bells Orchestra of the Hubei Provincial Museum was established and has gradually developed under the direct guidance and care of Chinese national leaders and with support from various sectors of society. In 1984, a full set of replicas of the chime bells from the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng was successfully crafted. In 1987, the Hubei Provincial Museum officially established the Chime-bells Performance Troupe (the predecessor of the Hubei Provincial Museum Chime-bells Orchestra) and began to stage performances for the public.
Centered on performances using the replicas of the chime bells from the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng, the Chime-bells Orchestra of the Hubei Provincial Museum has, since its establishment, positioned itself as an extension of the museum’s exhibitions. Through the artistic forms of music and dance, it actively promotes the Jing-Chu culture and Chinese civilization at large. The Orchestra has created a large number of outstanding musical works and received dozens of heads of state, government leaders, and parliamentary leaders at the museum. It has toured more than 40 countries and regions, including the United States, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, and Brazil, where they have been warmly received. The Orchestra has also participated in a series of significant performance events, including the National Day celebration for the 35th anniversary of the founding of the People’Republic of China, the 1997 Hong Kong Return Ceremony, the recording of award ceremony music for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the opening ceremony of the 25th Tokyo International Music Festival in 2011, the opening ceremony of the 4th PAS·China Fourth International Percussion Art Festival in 2020, and the Chime-bells Concert for the 110th anniversary of Tsinghua University in 2021.
Since its establishment, the Orchestra has maintained a year-round resident performance at the museum, offering a splendid audio-visual experience that reflects the musical culture of ancient China during the pre-Qin period (before 221 BC) for both domestic and international visitors. To date, it has hosted over 10 million audience members. The “Chime-bells Music and Dance”roject, meticulously developed by the Orchestra, was successfully inscribed on the 4th batch of Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists of Wuchang District, Wuhan in 2020. The Chime-bells Music and Dance has become a shining emblem of Hubei Province’international cultural exchanges, gaining increasing vitality as time passes.
As the solemn chime bells resound, a magnificent chapter will unfold.
