Tangible food satisfies bodily needs, while intangible food nurtures the soul– it could be a book, a piece of music, or a beautiful landscape. Using art as a form of spiritual nourishment, alongside the usual local food (art), we savor the flavors of foreign cultures, letting the art (food) carry our hearts on a journey.

The Heart and the Strings is a collaboration between the NCCU Art & Culture Center and Wind Music and invites Finnish musician Ida Elina to perform in Taiwan. Elina's magnetic voice and exceptional Kantele playing skills have won the hearts of music lovers worldwide. The performance is set to include Finnish folk epics and Ida Elina's original compositions. Through the artist's vibrant sharing and musical storytelling, the audience will get a chance to savor the essence of Finnish music and culture. Ida Elina's Kantele music, a blend of classical and modern influences, can be compared to one of Finland's national food, Rye Bread (Ruisleipä), which looks simple but has a firm texture that requires slow, careful savoring to truly appreciate its humble yet profound deliciousness. These qualities not only form a part of the cultural value system but also represent an ongoing tradition.

*The Kantele, often hailed as the "national instrument" of Finland, is a cherished treasure within the realm of folk music. The instrument consists of strings stretched on a sound box and is played by plucking with the fingers, producing a resonant, clear, and piercing tone. Like the guzheng, it belongs to the zither family. The Kantele can be divided into two types: one is the small Kantele, which has fewer than 11 strings and a musical range within two octaves; the other is the larger Kantele, usually comprising 38 strings and capable of spanning up to four octaves in terms of musical range.

合作單位