An Aboriginal children’s choir from Pingtung is leaving today for Europe, where they will perform ancient songs from the Paiwan tribe.
The tour, which will cover Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Germany, will be the first performance abroad by the 20-member choir from Tai Wu Elementary School, school principal Jean Yen-hui (簡炎輝) said.
Jean said the choir would perform traditional Paiwan tunes passed down through generations. Many of these songs have become unfamiliar to younger Paiwan, a common cultural problem among Aboriginal tribes, Jean said.
Because of past oppression of Aborigines and continuing pressure to assimilate into mainstream society, fewer young Aborigines can speak their native language or sing their tribal songs.
The songs were taught to students after the school recorded demonstrations of the songs by Paiwan elders, Jean said.
Schoolteacher and choir conductor Camake Valaule said the choir’s faithfulness to tradition had distinguished it from others.
The choir’s commitment to “singing one’s own songs” attracted the support of the public, and eventually helped it win the rare opportunity of performing in Europe, Camake said.
Although the choir was not established until 2006, the children’s talent was first recognized in 2003 when a member won the top prize in a nationl Aboriginal singing contest.
Over the past few years, the school’s singing group has received numerous invitations to perform around the country. Some of their songs have been included in music recordings.
With the assistance of the Teco Technology Foundation, the choir has received NT$200,000 per year in corporate sponsorships since 2007, Jean said.
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