The Han Tang Yuefu

The Han-Tang Yuefu Music Ensemble ( HTYF ) was founded in 1983 by Miss Chen Mei-o of Nankuan  ("Southern Winds") fame. Its purpose was to confirm the major role of Nankuan in the history of Chinese music, to trace the origins to its earliest sources, and to train singers and instrumentalists in the proper art of performing Nankuan music and, while energizing the lifeblood of this ancient tradition, rescue it from the brink of oblivion. Productions of the HTYF are marked by clearly defined scholarly goals, a spirit of in-depth cultural probing, distinctive ethnic characteristics, rich legacies in classical art, and highly polished performance techniques. These have together contributed to their refined and superior elegance. For more than ten years as they performed this ancient music at centres of higher learning the worldwide, Han-Tang Yuefu have earned international renown and admiration at various art festivals in Europe and Asia, winning high praise everywhere.

In Taiwan, we produced in 1990 a CD record of Nankuan music which was awarded a triple "Golden Cauldron" by the Executive Yuan for the best record, the best performance, and the best production. In 1991 they won the top award given to a musical group by the Ministry of Education. In 1995 they were elected one of the "International Performing Arts" groups to receive support from the Council on Cultural Planning and Development which at last made it possible to implement their long-cherished dream of recording the complete set of 64 ancient Nankuan instrumental suites. In the same year they produced a CD record introducing the

Appreciation of Nankuan and once more won a double "Golden Cauldron" prize for the best record and the best singing.

In preserving the essence of the ancient Nankuan tradition, HTYF also elaborated upon the Liyuan xi or "Musical Theatre of the Pear Orchard", a branch of southern music popular during the Song and Yuan dynasties (twelfth fourteenth centuries). Here in the telling of a tale, deeply introverted Nankuan music is wedded to highly refined songs and subtle modern movements inspired by the ancient tradition of Liyuan music. Establishing their "Liyuan Dance Studio", the troupe created programmes of classic musicals that are traditional in spirit but contemporary in form. Expressing continuity in the ideal: "contemporary music is ancient music; ancient music is contemporary", it is hoped that such living traditions will firmly implant the music of the Han people on a global stage. It is their constant ideal and goal to "recreate tradition by being rooted in tradition."