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The power of four

Cui Jian, the "godfather" of Chinese rock 'n' roll; Lo Ta Yu, known as the "Chinese Bob Dylan"; Tan Dun, one of China's most controversial contemporary musicians; and Yu Long, founder and artistic director of the Beijing Music Festival, gave a crossover talk and performance on Monday night at Sanlitun Village.

It was part of the BMF's urban series, created in collaboration with Swire Properties. The four shared their personal understandings of, and experiences with, music with about 450 people. Cui represented rock. Lo talked from the perspective of pop. And the classically trained Tan introduced his innovations of contemporary music. But all spoke of music's positive influence on people.