"The iconic Chinese instrument -- the erhu."


Snippet from the TFP magazine, Crusade -- for January - February 2011.

Mr. Kenneth Murphy's interview with Philip Calder, noted musician and composer.

Original title: The Power and Influence of Music: An interview with Philip B. Calder.

Question:

"After much analysis it becomes evident that the highest musical achievements have been attained when man receives the supernatural graces flowing from Christian Civilization.

"A collateral question arises: can good musical fruits be produced in societies existing solely in the natural order?"


Philip Calder's answer:


"The great missionary efforts of the Church through the ages have shown that when the Church has reached out to people of all backgrounds, we see that God, as the Father of all, never abandons anyone.

"In the billions of people God has created from the beginning, one can an infinite number of degrees, as each one is unique.

"God will not fail to give each one, on whatever level they are at, the means to know Him.

"One of the ways the Church shows that God reveals Himself is through the Ten Commandments.

"However, even in primitive people who have never heard of them, the Ten Commandments are written on their hearts.

"Each one knows what is right and wrong"


Societies, like China's!


"Societies -- I'd rather reserve civilization for that which the Church has developed -- that didn't have the supernatural influence of the Church, but just existed in the natural order, are going to have all different degrees of these things

"China, even without the civilizing and salvific influence of the Church, did many beautiful things.

"[T]he Chinese have tremendous refinement and intelligence, with a great appreciation of beauty.

"[C]oming to the specific point of music, I cite an example of an instrument that they developed, the erhu (pronounced ARE - who), a string instrument with a bow.

"The erhu is very expressive of the Chinese people, with a sound that is quite beautiful, almost like an instrument that mirrors the way they sing.

"For a long time, until about 30 years or so ago, the erhu has been more of a popular, folksy type of instrument as compared to one capable of great virtuosity.

"But it's interesting that the Chinese have now developed a tremendous love for Western musical instruments.

"Now under this impulse, the erhu players have developed a tremendous degree of virtuosity, on two strings.

"You could almost say that a virtuoso erhu player can do almost what a violin can; and that is saying a lot..."

Way to go, good people!