"I don't understand the Chinese, but I very much love the rhythms in the folk songs and the typical ways the singers sang them." said Griffiths Alexandre, a famed folk singer with a Frenchtroupe performing at the festival that ended recently.

Van Zuylen, a Dutch tourist who came especially to enjoy and appreciate Chinese folk songs performed at the festival, said thatthe Chinese should take great pride in their enchanting culture and music.

Lavinia Craciunescu, a brilliant amateur singer with the Romanian Wreath Group, sang with pride the melodious "Sea, My Beloved Home," the lively tale of a traveling man who suffered homesickness, which she learned simply by listening to and rehearsing a disc over and over again. Her performance attracted and moved the audience and drew their enthusiastic applause.

"An increasing number of Chinese folk songs are gaining popularity in Malaysia, such as "A Rose for Me" and "Songs Over the Wusuli River". We send youths every year to study China's folkmusic in Beijing and Shanghai," said Cheah Yoon Koon, a noted conductor of the Malaysia Klang Music Society chorus.

Meanwhile, Ken Kennet, who was leading an Australian art troupecalled "Fame" at the festival, said that before his arrival in China, he was only familiar with Beijing (or Peking) Opera via TV programs.

"The Chinese folk songs I hear now go far beyond the gorgeous Beijing Opera," noted Kennet at the festival.

Currently, Chinese folk music troupes have been performing frequently overseas which avail growing audiences from other countries of excellent opportunities to enjoy this artistic Chinese folk song treat.

Before 1998, the solemn, splendid Golden Hall in Vienna, a top sanctuary for distinguished musicians around the world, had never been visited by any Chinese.

Since then, Chinese folk musicians have held concerts in the hall for traditional Chinese Spring Festivals, or China's new year,and won appreciation from local music fans.

Guangxi region, with a population of approximately 46 million, is home to 28 ethnic groups, which are famed for their inherent love of singing and dancing.

(People's Daily December 9, 2002)