They were candidates for a project/match titled "Presences China" hosting foreign composers to write music for Shanghai. They were invited to compose pieces using Chinese instruments and incorporating some familiar Chinese melodies such as "The Jasmine Flower."

Their "homework" will be performed in a concert tonight at the Shanghai Grand Theater. At the concert, invitations will be given to eight Scandinavian composers for next year's match.

The audience will vote for the three most popular pieces, which will be staged during the Festival Presences in France in 2008. The three winners will be awarded 25,000 U.S. dollars, 17,500 dollars and 10,000 dollars respectively.

"I've had this idea in mind for a long time," says France-based Chinese composer Chen Qigang, artistic director of the project.

Like many Chinese musicians, Chen left to study overseas some 20 years ago because of his admiration of Western civilizations. "But as I looked at my own country from a distance, I gradually realized how distinctive my own culture was.

"Many Chinese musicians have won prizes in international competitions by playing Western compositions with Western instruments as judged by Western panels. But in my mind, these honors are not successes, but only a result of study and exchange. How can things happen in an opposite way, to let Western musicians know more about Chinese music?" Chen says.

He adds that through the match Western composers will understand Chinese instruments and melodies in a deep way.

"They will promote Chinese music and culture to the world in the future," says Chen. "On the other hand it will give Chinese people an opportunity to look at our own culture from a new angle. I hope it will also arouse Chinese passion for the long-forgotten charm of traditional Chinese music.

"This match is more meaningful than some popular singing competitions on TV shows."

Each of the eight French composers has written a concerto using the erhu (two-stringed bowed instrument), suona (oboe) or both. The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and traditional Chinese musicians will play.

"Chinese culture is distant to me. But I saw a corner of Chinese culture during my short stay last year," says composer Guillaume Connesson, who wrote an erhu concerto inspired by the Yuyuan Garden. "When I returned to Paris, I was often steeped in a mood of Shanghai, which is in a word, 'contrast.'

"Shanghai is such a modern, dynamic city. But I've also seen some very quiet, cultural and traditional places which seemed to have nothing to do with the hustle and bustle. I have been imbued with the feeling of contrast in my composition," he adds.

The project to compose for Shanghai will be ongoing. The organizing committee will present invitations written on bamboo to eight Scandinavian composers at the concert. They will be the next group of foreign composers to explore the charisma of Shanghai and Chinese music, probably in a Scandinavian way.