Promoting traditions is a timeless pursuit, and reciting classics is full of charm. On the morning of December 21st, the recitation competition themed “A Millennium of Cultural Legacy, Echoes Unceasing” was held as scheduled for Grade 7 and 8 students of our school. With sincere emotions and powerful tones, the students brought classic works to life on campus.
At the beginning of the competition, Principal Meng Xiaodong explained the significance of reading aloud from the perspective of tradition and culture, which greatly enhanced the enthusiasm of the students to study and read Chinese.The competition kicked off the chapter of family and country feelings with the heartfelt speech “Talk About China, Praise China” by students from Class 8H2. From the praise of the motherland in “I’m Proud to Be a Chinese” to the tranquility and grace in “China Under the Moonlight”; from the national cry bursting from the roaring waves in “Ode to the Yellow River” to the vitality in “Youth China”, the students used their voices as a bridge, infusing national pride into every syllable.
If family and national sentiments are a passionate epic, then nature and human feelings are a graceful melody.Class 8H3 depicted the elegant posture of egrets in the paddy fields through “Egrets”; Mark from Class 7H1 presented the fragrant encounter in a small Jiangnan town with “Mistake”; Class 7H2 conveyed the beauty of April via “You Are the April of This World”; and the collective recitation “Take Dreams as Horses” given by 8H4 and 8H5 interpreted the passion of dreams stirring in the heart. Similarly, Classes 8H1 and 8H2 expressed pure and beautiful hopes through “I Am a Willful Child”. From the poetry of prose to the delicacy of poems, the students depicted beauty with gentle tones, allowing the audience to feel the beauty of nature and the warmth of human feelings.
The immortality of classics lies in their timeless resonance. Whether it is the open-mindedness spanning thousands of years in “Prelude to Water Melody”, the boldness of poets in the prosperous Tang Dynasty in “Invitation to Wine”, the struggle and outburst of fate in the dialogue of “Thunderstorm” performed by Class 8H5, the praise for Van Gogh’s creative spirit in “The Sun Over Arles”, or the tenacity of the national spirit in “Ode to the White Poplar”— with highly expressive performances, the students made the classics break free from the constraints of paper and regain vitality on the stage. From classical poems to modern masterpieces, from solo recitations to group performances, each program embodied the teenagers’ reverence and love for words.
In addition, the intermission performances added a unique charm to this cultural feast. The piano solo “The Truth That You Leave” purified the soul; the guzheng piece “Little Sisters of the Grassland Heroes” echoed across the grassland with sonorous melodies; and the piano piece “Fantasy Impromptu” blossoms with vitality. Music, the piano sounds, and the recitation complement each other.
Although the competition has ended, the inheritance of cultural heritage will never stop. The students awakened words with their voices and continued the cultural heritage with their love. In this cultural journey spanning ancient and modern times, they not only showcased excellent language expression abilities but also nurtured a profound cultural heritage.