"Mozart's String Quartet in C Major, K. 465, Dissonance, a type of chamber music in four movements for two violins, viola, and cello, was completed in 1785, and it was known for its divergence, especially from the then-standard rules of harmony," said cellist Yang Yichen before performing the music piece along with his members of Amber Quartet.

He let his wife, Ning Fangliang, first violin of the quartet, demonstrate the "dissonant" tune in the opening movement and then compared it to a "harmonic" way with Ning playing the same notes again.

"After the 'dissonant' part, you will hear music, melodic and harmonic like many other Mozart's music pieces, which make you feel like watching mountains and hearing water flows," Yang said.

Zhang Liping and Beijing Symphony Orchestra. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Then the quartet started to perform the music piece.

Their performance was part of a 12-hour marathon event, which was held at the Forbidden City Concert Hall on Dec 12 in Beijing paying tribute to Mozart by performing his music.

From 9:30 am to 9:30 pm, the event saw six concerts ranging from choral singing, chamber music and fortepiano. Highlights included soprano Zhang Liping and Beijing Symphony Orchestra performed excerpts from Mozart's operas, Le Nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni, under the baton of Li Biao.

Under the baton of conductor Wu Lingfen, Harmonia, a choir founded by Wu in 2012, performed a children's song Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, which was adapted by Daniel Elder, and Alla Turca, which is popularly known as the Turkish Rondo. Pianist Wang Yuehan, French horn player Zeng Yun and pipe organ Shen Yuan also joined in the event.