source file: mills2.txt Date: Fri, 1 Nov 1996 08:00:38 -0800 Subject: Short Report: ICCMMS '96, Shanghai, China From: linusliu@HK.Super.NET (Linus Liu) The following is a short report on my visit at the ICCMMS 96 held in Shanghai, China, 15 to 19 October. I shall not repeat what is found on the initial submission form. The chief host of this conference in Computer Music and Music Science, the Jiao Tong University, is celebrating its 100th year anniversary. The city Shanghai is rapidly being modernised. One delegate has heard it said that 40% of all cranes in the world are working in Shanghai. Another delegate described the traffic there, a "well organised chaos". Most felt by overseas delegates is the hospitality of the organisers, one expressed in the closing ceremony, "a hospitality that (he) has never found in any conference before, probably never in any other." The country's mystic evaporate. I pay my share of thanks to Prof. Xu and all involved, even I myself felt more like a host than a guest. The splendour of this old international city is still evident and fresh as ever by the river bank. While a new developed city shoots up over the other side of the river bank, marked by the tallest (in the world?) TV transmission tower, and numerous new buildings all less than five years old. Old reserved sites and buildings over Shanghai are well maintained. Taxi price is cheap, and looking around on ourselves with a map is possible. Unfortunately, admission mostly begins at six and closes at five. We could peep through the gates of places. Accommodation for overseas delegates is given in a small but nice hotel just across the road at the University main entrance. The first day conference was held at the University main hall, the next two days at the conference room at a newly built (2 years?) exhibition complex, and an exhibition of Dunhuang (on Silk Road) Arts was on. The delegates were entertained with a few nice, big dinners (maybe fifteen courses. Words fail. You need to be there eating.), a concert at the Shanghai Music Conservatory with electronic music, Mendelsohn violin concerto (1st mvt), opera solo except and Chinese instrumental music, performed by Conservatory students. An evening of a traditional Chinese opera. Some looking and shopping around the city, of course. Most delegates from overseas stayed after the conference for a 3-day tour to Hangchou, the most scenic and cultural city and ancient capital of olden emperors. One probably cannot see all the many interesting places in three months time. At times we scattered, and we the more adventurous found and tasted a few more of the most famous and excellent local dishes. Silk was cheap, our Italian friend bought ten neck-ties. Paper presentation is scheduled within three days. One paper is read at any one time, so basically, everyone hears every paper. The respective categories of MUSIC SCIENCE, 28 papers, COMPUTER MUSIC, 18 and GENERAL 8 papers. A modest 18 papers came from overseas incl. USA, Japan, Italy, Hong Kong, Ireland, Scotland. Visitors at the August Hong Kong ICMA might have found it difficult to attend the Shanghai conference just two months apart. For many Chinese delegates, this is their first and valuable experience at an international gathering. Inclusion of "Music Science" in the subject of this conference has permitted many more Chinese participation. My own paper on "western" vs. "Chinese" tuning practice was well received, in particular, among our Japanese friends, with an invitation to visit Japan extended to me. Michael Land composes music for computer games, and he was cheated by my recorded midi example of an orchestral excerpt from the Beethoven violin concerto and took it as real orchestra. He was so impressed and wanted to apply my technique into his music (if his boss would support it). I hope many of you will consider coming to China for visit. It sure is a place one cannot afford to miss. Received: from ns.ezh.nl [137.174.112.59] by vbv40.ezh.nl with SMTP-OpenVMS via TCP/IP; Fri, 1 Nov 1996 23:00 +0100 Received: by ns.ezh.nl; (5.65v3.2/1.3/10May95) id AA22211; Fri, 1 Nov 1996 23:01:35 +0100 Received: from eartha.mills.edu by ns (smtpxd); id XA22292 Received: from by eartha.mills.edu via SMTP (940816.SGI.8.6.9/930416.SGI) for id OAA15386; Fri, 1 Nov 1996 14:01:32 -0800 Date: Fri, 1 Nov 1996 14:01:32 -0800 Message-Id: Errors-To: madole@ella.mills.edu Reply-To: tuning@eartha.mills.edu Originator: tuning@eartha.mills.edu Sender: tuning@eartha.mills.edu