Weng shihui/Shanghai Daily news

The music China 2005 turned out to be a feast for music fans. The event which was held in the Shanghai New International Expo Center and was part of the ongoing Shanghai International Art Festival wrapped up on Friday.
Located in the Pudong New Area, the 20,000-square-meter exhibition hall provided a diversified platform for approximately 900 participants from 20 countries. Many world-renowned manufacturers took part in the event, including Roland, JBL, ACE and Pearl River.
Visitors experienced a visual and aural feast at the exhibition.
The modern music performances were very popular but there were also a couple of specially designed "Jinghu" (also known as Peking Opera fiddles). Even with the stiff competition from the more modern instruments, these artifacts, featuring in the exhibition attracted big crowds.
The exhibition of fiddles was called "Meilan Fiddle" to commemorate Mei Lanfang, the grand master of Peking Opera.
The traditional "Jinghu" is a two-stringed, bamboo instrument with a high register. It is also famed as the chief musical instrument used to accompany Peking Opera.
What makes these fiddles unique is their combination of wood and ivory. Their "zhenzi" (the keys used for tuning) are made of ivory adding to the instrument's weight and value. These keys help the fiddles produce an even, smoother timbre.
Apart from the eye-catching carved plum blossom and orchid on the ivory-made "qinzhen," there is another amazing aspect to these instruments: 56 famous Chinese fiddlers' names are carved on the resonators, each fiddle featuring 28 names written in lesser seal characters (a style of Chinese calligraphy).
Antique violins
Elegant carvings vividly depict the outstanding fiddlers from the 200-year history of Peking Opera. These include fiddlers such as Tan Xinpei, Mei Yutian, Sun Zuochen and Chen Yanheng. Also on display are the fiddles of Mei Lanfang (the most prestigious "qingyi," the female role in traditional Chinese opera, usually played by a middle-aged woman, wearing a black dress). These parts have been played by Xu Lanyuan, Wang Shaoqing and Jiang Fengshan.
The artifacts' bamboo yellow, ivory white and boa brown coloring make for an appealing aesthetic experience. The instruments impact is as mush visual as aural.
Lou zhuangdong, a famous fiddle collector who came up with the idea of for this special exhibit said: "Without doubt, Peking Opera is the most typical representation of 20th century stage art in China. These two delicate fiddles are not only a display, they can actually be played. This is also an memento of the nation's culture and history.
"I have studied lots of historical records to identify the list of fiddlers. The list covers most of the fiddlers who have cooperated with famous Chinese opera artists right the way back to the Qing Dynasty."
There was even a middle-aged amateur performer of Peking Opera who traveled all the way from Shaanxi Province to see these Meilan Fiddles with his own eyes,'' said Lou.
Many visitors were excited to see the excellent craftsmenship involved in the violins and some of the visitors even wanted to play the special violins, however, valued at 20,000 yuan (US$2,469), visitors had to appreciate the instruments from a distance.
The stage shows at the exhibition consisted mainly of electric pianos and light shows.
The demonstration of modern and traditional art at Music China 2005 offered something for all lovers of music.