Harmonica, a South Korean classical music band, has been winning hearts in Shanghai with its moving performances.
But one would not be able to find an album at record stores. This group of musicians can’t be found in conventional theaters, either. Instead, they ply their trade in public, along the streets of Shanghai.
“I still remember that a beggar cried during our band’s first performance, and the little girl who sells flowers along the Bund gave us a flower as a gift,” said Han Jong-su, the band’s violinist. “Within 20 minutes, we received about 400 yuan ($59; 51 euros; ￡45) from the audience. Everyone was applauding us.”
A graduate of the Seoul Institute of the Arts, Han came to China in 2012 to explore opportunities in the music industry. He ended up spending a few years at various universities studying Chinese before landing a full-time job at an institution where he teaches violin.
His first experience as a street performer was at Pudong Riverside Avenue in 2013, where he managed to draw a large crowd. The reception to his music spurred him to continue performing on the streets, and he eventually met fellow Korean musicians, which led to the formation of Harmonica.
But Harmonica’s captivating performances drew another group of individuals – urban management officers.
Han said five officers surrounded the band during a show, saying that performing along the Bund was prohibited. Members of the public jumped to their rescue, Han said, arguing with the authorities that the band members were not beggars.
“I still remember the officer’s answer: He said that he wanted to listen to us, but we had to come back after midnight when he was off duty, or else he would get into trouble with his supervisor for not enforcing the law,” he said.
The officer recommended a place that the band could perform. But Han later discovered that the location on South Tibet Road was already filled, and the noisy environment near the main road was not ideal for instrumental performances.
However, members of a Chinese band he met there advised him to apply for a street performing license, which would make life much easier.
“At first we didn’t believe them because we always thought it was unrealistic for a foreign group to play legally on Chinese streets, but we later learned that there were German and US artists who managed to get licenses. That’s when we decided to apply,” Han said.
In April, five of the regular members of the band, including Han, received licenses allowing them to perform at designated areas such as Jiang’an Park and Wujiang Road. The band, which currently comprises men and women between 25 and 40, can earn up to 1,000 yuan per day.
“Most of our team members graduated from art-related colleges in South Korea and have a job in Shanghai now. All of us have the same goal – to play our music for people who really want to listen to us,” Han said.
Having a license has also helped reduce the chance of trouble. Han said the license brought a change in the dynamic with urban management officers, who now protect them instead of expelling them.
“We feel safe and respected here,” he said. “More important, we are now playing to people who really like our music. The only reason for them to stop is because they enjoy it.”
(China Daily European Weekly 11/09/2018 page16)