On July 10th, 2025, the ICC held “Echoes of Asia” event which gave participants a chance to experience and compare two distinct musical tradition of Asia in one evening. The guests featured were Professor Polina from SILS and Shii Kobayashi, a SILS student who had a lot of experience playing Guzheng, a Chinese instrument. Their performances showed how music expresses emotion and carries cultural meaning across regions.
Picture by ICC
One of the most outstanding parts of this event was how different the two performances felt despite having the similarity of touching the heart of the listener. The Chinese Guzheng carried a sense of magical calmness, and its flowing melodies pulled us into a space of reflection. It felt gentle and dreamlike. The felt like looking at a brush being stroked against the canvas leading to a beautiful picture.
Picture by ICC
Picture by ICC
In contrast, the Azerbaijani music brought a bolder emotion. The strong rhythm of Tar and deeper tones gave a sense of urgency and power. Sometimes, it felt sad, sometimes it filled you with bravery. With every string plucked, one could feel vividness and emotions grounded to reality. It was as if it reflected the identity of being a human. One could hear the raw indomitable human spirit behind the music. With this strength, it also held something magical in the atmosphere. It showed how even intensity shows beauty and mystery.
Picture by ICC
