About this Event
China Institute is partnering with the XiaoShao Ensemble (箫韶乐团) of the Confucius Museum in Qufu, China, to present Sound of Magnificence: Resonance of an Ancient Elegant Ensemble in New York, a special program celebrating the enduring significance of ritual and music in Chinese culture.
Featuring an ensemble of ancient court instruments—including bells, stone chimes, qin, se, sheng, and more—the program offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience the sounds and traditions of ancient Chinese ritual music, reimagined and brought to life by a new generation of talented musicians from Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius, one of the world’s most influential thinkers and educators.
For Confucius, ritual and music were far more than forms of entertainment. Together, they were essential to the cultivation of the mind, character, and human relationships. Drawing upon this profound tradition, the performance invites contemporary audiences to experience the beauty, harmony, and philosophical spirit embodied in Yayue—China’s ancient tradition of elegant ritual music.
For the first time since their debut at China Institute in 2022, China Institute’s New Dasheng Chime-Bells (⼤晟新钟) will be featured in the performance, alongside instruments brought directly from Qufu. Prior to the live performance, audiences will also be invited to explore a curated display and participate in interactive activities related to the traditions of Yayue, creating a richer and more immersive cultural experience.
Program at a Glance
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM | Meet the Musicians
Enjoy a special pre-concert experience offering an up-close encounter with the musicians. Discover the beauty and traditions of Chinese court music through instrument demonstrations, interactive activities, and a guided tour of China Institute's gallery exhibition focusing on music.
Light refreshments will be served.
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Live Music Performance
Sound of Magnificence: Resonance of an Ancient Elegant Ensemble in New York
Experience the elegance and splendor of ancient Chinese court music brought to life through a captivating live performance.
Audience members are encouraged to wear Hanfu or other traditional Chinese attire to enhance the immersive atmosphere and become part of this special cultural celebration.
Support Music and Cultural Exchange
Your participation helps advance China Institute’s mission to foster cross-cultural understanding through music, education, and cultural exchange.
For those who wish to make an additional contribution, we invite you to select our $60 Supporter Ticket, which includes access to the special pre-concert experience and priority seating for the performance. Your generous support enables China Institute to continue bringing exceptional musical experiences and cultural programs to New York audiences.
Xiaoshao Ensemble 箫韶乐团
The Xiaoshao Ensemble of the Confucius Museum was founded in 2019, and its name was taken from the classical story of Confucius hearing the Xiaoshao music and praising it as “perfect in both beauty and goodness.” The ensemble is dedicated to restoring, sharing, and performing classical Chinese court and ritual music, and is committed to carrying it forward through“living”transmission. It currently has 14 full-time performers. Over seven years of development, drawing on ancient scores and historical instruments, the ensemble has restored more than 200 yayue instruments—including pre-Qin bianzhong (bronze chime bells), bianqing (stone chimes), qin, se, and chi—and has performed more than 100 pieces of court and ritual music from successive dynasties, including works from the Book of Songs and Han Yuefu. It has also recreated more than 300 sets of musician costumes from the pre-Qin, Han, Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties, integrating traditional song, music, dance, and ritual into its performances. To date, the ensemble has given more than 3,000 performances and directly reached an audience of more than 300,000.
Confucius Museum 孔子博物馆
The Confucius Museum is a major cultural institution built to preserve and promote China’s outstanding traditional culture, as represented by Confucianism. It is also the largest and most comprehensive thematic museum in China devoted to Confucius culture. Located at the southern end of the central axis of Qufu, Confucius’ hometown in Shandong Province, the museum covers an area of 168,000 square meters, with a total floor area of 55,000 square meters.
The museum’s collections come mainly from the Kong family’s old holdings, which were passed down in the Confucius Family Mansion for more than 800 years. It houses 700,000 cultural relics of various kinds. Its best-known holdings include 300,000 private documents and archives of the Kong family dating from 1534 onward; more than 40,000 rare editions of ancient books from the Song Dynasty (960–1279) onward; over 8,000 items of clothing and accessories spanning more than six centuries; and a large number of ritual vessels and musical instruments associated with sacrifices to Confucius. Since opening in 2019, the museum has welcomed nearly 2 million visitors annually on average, placing it among the leading thematic museums in China.
Event venue & nearby stays
China Institute of America, 100 Washington Street, New York, United States
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