Music streamed out of the press conference hall of the Beijing Olympic Games' Main Press Center (MPC) on Tuesday, as the organizers released fragments of the award ceremony music, said to be a combination of ancient and modern elements.
The award ceremony music is expected to be played for a total of 774 times during the 302 competitions of the summer Olympic Games and 472 competitions of the Paralympic Games, said Zhao Dongming, director of the Culture Activities Department of the Beijing Organizing Committee of the 29th Olympic Games (BOCOG).
The award ceremony music consists of four parts, namely the symbolist music, admission music, award-bestowing music and march-out music.
Tan Dun, an Oscar winner of the Best Original Score for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," is the composer of the symbolist music, award-bestowing music and march-out music, while Wang Hesheng, a composer of the Military Band of the People's Liberation Army of China, created the admission music.
For the symbolist music, which will be played prior to the beginning of an award ceremony, Tan integrated the original sound of the ancient two-tone set-bells, unearthed from the tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng State, with the sound of jade musical stone, to produce magnificent musical effects.
"The original sound of the stones around 2,400 years ago embodies the origin and essence of the Chinese philosophy which highlights harmony," said Tan.
Tan said his band did not really play the 2,400-year-old set-bells, which is a precious national treasure and was only played once in 1997 to mark China's resumption of its exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong.
"We just used the audio record of the bell's sounding in 1997 to produce the symbolist music, through combining it with other music elements," Tan said.
For the award-bestowing process, Tan made a harmonious integration of the sounds from serial bells and jade musical stones, and adopted the melody of Jasmine, a traditional Chinese folk song with global fame.
"Compared with the music for the award ceremonies at the previous Olympic Games, Tan's music well demonstrates the characteristics of the Chinese culture," said Zhao from the BOCOG.
"I have never composed music for the medalists, the heroes I admire, before. But I think the award-ceremony music should show dignity, love and respect, and should demonstrate harmony and the concept of balance," Tan explained.
Wang, who composed the admission music, said that he had blended some military music elements into the admission music, to be played when medalists are marching toward the medal podiums.
The march-out music will be played when athletes are leaving the medal podiums. Also composed by Tan, it is a joyful and brisk tune.
Tan also joined hands with Robert Wells, one of the leading young pianists in the world, to compose the "sports demonstration symbol music" for the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics.
"I am representing not only myself but also Sweden from north Europe," said the Swedish musician. "It's very important for me to come from the outside to bring a little western touch (to the Games' music)."
(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2008)