Epoch Times: Famous Flautist: 'The most wonderful piece of counterpoint'

Famous British flautist William Bennett said he was fascinated by the mixture of Chinese and Western Instruments in the Chinese Spectacular in London, describing the drumming as "most impressive."

"I liked the Erhu specially. Very touching. Lovely, but very beautiful, most vocal – most unusual."

"I can't quite work out how it works. it's quite similar to the violin, but I can't work out how they separate the notes on two strings. A very touchy, tactical instrument."

William Bennett specialises in Baroque music and the contrapuntal fugues of Bach. He drew a parallel between the interweaving patterns of dancers in the Spectacular, and the interwoven melodies of contrapuntal music. "I was very impressed earlier on when a whole lot of orange-robed monks came on slowly and the ladies came on at a completely different speed and they didn't seem to be moving. They were just gliding along, and it was the most wonderful piece of counterpoint."

William Bennett has played the flute for most of the national orchestra's and now teaches at the Royal Academy in London.

"There's a funny short oboe thing with a mouthpiece [suo-na] which I wanted to hear more of, i haven't heard of enough yet," he said at the intermission. "I am looking forward to hearing some more, and the Chinese flute with the membrane which makes a lovely buzzy noise from time to time – the real original flute – and it was very interesting to hear it"

"Wonderfully gracious" is how he described the dancers. "I'm very impressed with the way the ladies glide along the floor without moving their legs," he said." They were lovely to watch – most elegant movements. All these dancers are professionals. Very, very fantastic movements."