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Listening to the World Locally – The Homecoming Tour of Taiwanese Musicians
Listening to the World Locally – The Homecoming Tour of Taiwanese Musicians

Publication date: 20 Aug 2024
Author: Lee Yi-ling, Wang Li-Chiao | Staff member at the Archives of Institute of Taiwan History

Ninety years ago, in August 1934, a group of young Taiwanese musicians embarked on the first Western music concert tour in Taiwan’s history. The Homecoming Concert Tour began with great fanfare during the scorching summer of the South Island, kicking off at the Taipei Medical School Auditorium. With a packed itinerary, the tour traveled southward, stopping at public assembly halls in Hsinchu, Taichung, Changhua, Chiayi, and Tainan, before culminating in a final performance at the Kaohsiung Youth Hall. Despite the demanding schedule, the musicians delivered exquisite piano melodies and harmonies to audiences across Taiwan, sparking widespread acclaim.

This article focuses on Taiwan’s first “Homecoming Concert Tour,” which was rapidly organized in just over a month. The program primarily featured Western musical compositions. During the scorching summer of the South Island, this grand musical feast unfolded with enthusiasm, traveling from north to south with seven performances. It offered audiences across Taiwan an auditory delight, broadened their horizons, and brought Western music closer to the local population. This tour marked the beginning of Taiwan’s musical diversity and led to Taiwan’s music being recognized on the Olympic stage, where Taiwanese music shone brightly on the global scene.

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Photographs of Michael H. Finegan Collections
Photograph Description
  Terminus of Timber Driving, Giran
During the Japanese Occupation, the Japanese government was actively engaged in forest resources exploitation in Taiwan by first deforesting the area of Mount Ali in Meiji period and then logging the section of Mount Taiping in 1915 (4th year of Taisho period). Taiwan Red Cypress and Taiwan Yellow Cedar are the most valuable wood. Mount Taiping especially amassed the most abundant wood resources in Taiwan.
（Purchased by ITH, Identifier: T020302_03_0121）
  A View of the Tainan-Ampin Canal, Formosa. (Tainan)
Ampin Port was the important harbor from which European culture was imported 300 years ago. Chinese sailing ships (Junk) could navigate Tai-jiang inland sea which is between Ampin and Tainan.
（Purchased by ITH, Identifier:T020302_04_0162）
  Mud Volcano (Kaohsiung, Taiwan)
This area consists of fine-grained and loosely composed mudstone which is hard to walk on. Even grass cannot survive. Hence, it is called the “Barren Field.”
（Purchased by ITH, Identifier: T020301_03_0208）
  Lin Ben Yuan Garden
This garden locates in Banqiao, Taipei.It is one of the four famous gardens in Taiwan.
（Purchased by ITH, Identifier: T020301_01_0359）
  "MiKado" Pheasants, Peculiar to Taiwan.
Mikado pheasant is an endemic species in Taiwan. The appearance of male Mikado pheasants is extravagant featuring beautiful tail feathers at the length of 50 to 60 cm. Female Mikado pheasants are smaller in size.
（Purchased by ITH, Identifier: T020302_06_0384）
  The Museum in Taipei
National Taiwan Museum, formerly the Museum of Office of the Taiwan Governor-General, was built to commemorate the fourth Taiwan Governor-General Kodama Gentaro and Head of Civilian Affairs Goto Shinpei. Located in 228 Memorial Park, its exhibits are related to Taiwanese history, customs, animals, geology and minerals.
（Purchased by ITH, Identifier: T020301_01_0437）
  The School for Young Savages, Kappanzan, Formosa.
During the Japanese colonial period, the Office of Taiwan Governor-General established schools of compulsory education for indigenous children. Kappanzan now locates in Fuxing Township, Taoyuan County.
（Purchased by ITH, Identifier: T020302_02_0454）
  The Green River in Spring Rain (Taichung, Taiwan)
The Green River is in the west of Taichung Station at the core of Taichung.
（Purchased by ITH, Identifier: T020301_02_0481）
  Savage Village at Suisha, Jitsugetsutan, Formosa.
This indigenous village locates in Yuchi Township, Nantou County.
（Purchased by ITH, Identifier: T020302_02_0521）
  The Indigenous Weaving Women in Musha
Musha locates in Ren’ai Township, Nantou County. It was famous since Musha Incident in 1930 (5th year of Showa period).
（Purchased by ITH, Identifier: T020302_02_0573）
  The Second Switchback of Mount Ali Rails
The Japanese colonial government built the forest rail in 1912 for forest resources exploitation and transportation in Mount Ali.
（Purchased by ITH, Identifier: T020302_04_0659）
  The Floating Island on Sun Moon Lake
Sun Moon Lake is the biggest lake in Taiwan. The floating island was an accumulation of humus of aquatic plants. In the Japanese colonial period, the construction of the Sun Moon Lake Reservoir destroyed the landscape and ecosystem of the floating island.
（Purchased by ITH, Identifier: T020301_02_1037）
‹ The Photographic Materials of Michael H. Finegan Collections up

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