To celebrate the Lunar New Year, the Chinese Music Ensemble from the World Music Program headed down to the Founders Memorial Library to perform. 

The Chinese Music Ensemble performed several songs in the Sounds of Celebration concert at 4 p.m. Wednesday on the main floor of the Founders Memorial Library. 

Directed by pipa master Yang Wei, the ensemble showcased a display of rapid strings, light flutes and heavy percussion. This concert was the first event in the University Libraries’ series World Music Comes to the Library. 

Jui-Ching Wang, a professor of music education and world music and coordinator of the World Music Program, was happy to change the location of the performance to the center of campus instead of in the Music Building. 

“I’m very happy with the turnout,” Wang said. “We thought this would be the perfect opportunity to introduce ourselves to people who don’t come to our concerts and this is the center of campus.” 

The ensemble performed songs such as “Spring Festival Overture,” “Happy New Year,” “Hammer Dulcimer,” “Spring, river, flower, night, moon,” “August Espectus” and “Crazy Dance of the Golden Snake.” 

The Asian American Resource Center offered a calligraphy table next to the performance where visitors could create their own pieces with the help of a studios foundation class. 

Elizabeth Vieyra, a musician in the Chinese Music Ensemble, found it exciting to perform in a different place than usual.

“I’ve played here a few times and it’s fun,” Vieyra said. “It’s nice to play outside of the Music Building.” 

Ethan Cowburn, a masters student and member of the Chinese Music Ensemble, thought performing in a place other than the Music Building would attract more attention. 

“One of the nice things about playing outside of the Music Building is that people that don’t go to concerts can see the music,” Cowburn said. “I mean, it’s hard to expect non-musicians to come to concerts.” 

There is no current date scheduled for the next performance in the library.