SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS REVIEWS

Retired Piano Teacher Applauds Shen Yun’s Music

Mar 01, 2023

SIOUX FALLS S.D.—Whether it’s instrumental or vocal, western or eastern, music is a universal language. Music is all around us, and beautiful music can move the listener to tears.

“I am a retired piano teacher, and so I am interested in the tonalities of the music,” said Donna Schwartz, who came to see Shen Yun Performing Arts at Mary W. Sommervold Hall at Washington Pavilion. She attended the Feb. 28 performance with her son Joseph and his girlfriend.

Shen Yun, based in New York, is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company, and each company tours with its own full orchestra. The orchestra performs original compositions that were written to fit each dance like a glove. Although many think of the pentatonic scale when Chinese music is mentioned, Chinese music is not limited to the pentatonic scale. Every scale and mode in Western music can also be used in Chinese music.

“I’m noticing that there’s Western civilization tonalities and harmony when I expected more of the pentatonic scale music ... I’m enjoying the music very much,” said Mrs. Schwartz.

Shen Yun’s singers are trained the traditional bel canto style of singing. Although they are singing in Chinese, audiences have no issue understanding, as translations of the text are projected onto Shen Yun’s digital backdrop.

Ms. Schwartz complimented the soprano.

“Oh yes, she’s very well trained, and I loved her voice and the piano player was wonderful too,” she said.

Shen Yun’s dancers are trained in classical Chinese dance. Although China has a history of 5,000 years, classical Chinese dance had not received such global attention until Shen Yun began presenting it to audiences around the world.

“I didn’t realize that there was anything like classical Chinese dance, so this is all exciting, very new, and very enjoyable,” said Mrs. Schwartz.

Just the beauty and the talent and the emotion that's conveyed in the dance is absolutely stunning.

— Donna Schwartz

“This performance has been overwhelming. Just the beauty and the talent and the emotion that’s conveyed in the dance is absolutely stunning,” added Ms. Schwartz.

Using dance and music, Shen Yun is able to tell touching stories from Chinese history and mythology. Shen Yun also tells true stories from present day China.

“I was moved by the piece titled ‘Unprecedented Crime,’ about the atrocities that are happening in communist China, and I applaud [Shen Yun] for taking a stand so publicly about that,” commented Ms. Schwartz.

Shen Yun is a voice for the practitioners of Falun Dafa who are being persecuted for their faith in China. Falun Dafa teaches is followers to abide by the principles, truth, compassion, and forbearance.

For that, Mrs. Schwartz wanted to say to Shen Yun: “It’s such a timely issue right now. You’re really brave to take a stand and and I just am applauding you for doing that for freedom. We want to stand for freedom and the ability to live our lives in in freedom and pursue our passions, and our lives, and our families in a way that is not controlled by the government. Thank you! Thank you!”

“I just find it heartbreaking but I appreciate that you are showing the world what is really happening under this oppressive form of government,” added Mr. Schwartz.

Reporting by Yawen Hung and Maria Han.

The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.