Source: Institute of Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage
Written by: Chen Xi
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

On October 16-18, 2014, a 5-member delegation of American folklore scholars and musicians visited Institute of Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage, Sun Yat-sen University. Members of the delegation included William Lee Ellis, Bill Ivey, Larry Nager, Howard L. Sacks and Judith Rose Sacks.

In the afternoon on October 16, the five scholars attended a workshop on American folk music with teachers and students from the Institute of Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage and other schools and departments in Room 914 at Chinese Hall. They introduced the history, characteristics and important musicians of American folk music and its influence on contemporary popular music. They also discussed issues in the safeguarding of folk music and folk art as intangible cultural heritage as well as what and how folklorists could do for the intangible cultural heritage safeguarding.

In the afternoon on October 18, the five scholars attended the lectures on folk culture protection and folk music in Room 915 at Chinese Hall. William L. Ellis gave a lecture entitled “Innovation, Identity, and Commentary in the Music of Blind Performers”, Howard L. Sacks and Judith Rose Sacks gave a lecture entitled "Constructing Uncle Dan". The teachers and students from the Institute of Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage participated in the discussion. Some teachers reflected on the research methods and angles in folklore. Then, the American folklore scholars performed two Blues tunes they improvised in Guangzhou for the teachers and students at SYSU, who were impressed by the folklorists’ innovation and passion for folk art.