Harmonica ensemble from Taiwan to shine at Berlin’s Harmonica FEN Festival

台灣口琴樂團將在柏林FEN口琴音樂節大放異彩

Sirius Harmonica Ensemble showcases Taiwanese culture with diverse musical genres


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's Sirius Harmonica Ensemble (天狼星口琴樂團) will perform in Berlin on Sunday (May 26) at the Harmonica FEN Festival 2024, a prestigious music event in Germany.

This ensemble will be the festival's only group consisting solely of harmonica players. They will also participate in a master’s class during the event, where they will share their experience and musical philosophy.

Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture (MOC), this performance is part of the Spotlight Taiwan program, which aims to introduce various facets of Taiwanese culture, including cinema, literature, music, and the arts, to Europe, according to the MOC.

The five Taiwanese musicians will present a repertoire encompassing genres from Latin and jazz to traditional Taiwanese songs. Highlights of their performance include "Same Moonlight," a popular Taiwanese pop song from the 1980s, and a custom piece composed for the ensemble by Jang Li (李讓), an award-winning Taiwanese harmonica artist.

Taiwan has been a hot topic in the German media, with the country witnessing a growing interest in Taiwan amid fast-moving geopolitical developments, according to Taiwan’s representative office in Germany.

Since its founding in 2012, the Sirius Harmonica Ensemble has been dedicated to promoting harmonica music in Taiwan, notably hosting the Taiwan Harmonica Music Festival. Over the years, the ensemble has actively participated in harmonica festivals across Europe.

More information can be found at Harmonica FEN Festival 2024.