
Edwin Barker (Photo by Tom Kates)
Bassist Ed Barker was on the 1979 China trip of the BSO; he’s still with the orchestra and we talked to him to see what he thought about the new trip. We asked him if he had vivid memories of the 1979 visit and if it felt particularly difficult at the time.

BSO 1979 photos in China (Photo by Story Litchfield)
When the BSO arrived in China, they found that there was a great deal of interest in them on the part of the Chinese music community, as was evidenced by the enthusiastic attendance at the concerts and master classes. Barker saw that it was obvious that China was beginning to emerge from the effects of the Cultural Revolution, particularly in the field of Western Classical music. There was clearly a strong implied kinship between the Chinese and Boston Symphony members as musicians. That relationship, brief as it was, seemed to transcend political boundaries, and the Boston Symphony musicians were treated with great hospitality by their Chinese hosts.

BSO 1979 photos in China (Photo by Story Litchfield)
He was also struck by the visual homogeneity of the society. He noted that everyone dressed the same and rode the same kinds of bicycles – there seemed to be more bicycles than automobiles on the dusty streets. He was also surprised to see the military doing drills in public parks.

BSO 1979 photos in China (Photo by Story Litchfield)
For this return 35 years later, Barker is looking forward to seeing how Beijing and Shanghai have changed and is very interested in seeing the extent to which Western Classical music has taken hold. On a more touristic note, he’d also like to see the Great Wall this time!
Edwin Barker will be performing with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at the Guangzhou Opera House.