On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., National Chung Cheng University (CCU) hosted its 36th Anniversary Concert — “The Renaissance Dancing Master: From the Age of Discovery” at the Student Activity Center Auditorium.
The performance featured The Gleam Ensemble, an early music group devoted to historically informed performance and the promotion of early European music. Using instruments from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the ensemble recreated the sounds of the Age of Discovery, inviting faculty, students, and the local community to immerse themselves in the music and dance of five centuries past.
In 15th- and 16th-century Europe, the spirit of the Renaissance transformed not only art and architecture but also elevated dance into a refined expression of humanism and aesthetics. From Italian courts to French villages, the melodies and rhythms of dance reflected people’s pursuit of grace, freedom, and the art of living. The surviving manuscripts and musical scores from that era became essential references for today’s early music revival, allowing audiences to once again experience the sounds and movements of the Renaissance.
During the performance, ensemble director Hao-Jen Chiang guided audiences through the history and unique timbres of historical instruments, offering an engaging listening experience that bridged the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Age of Exploration.
Members of The Gleam Ensemble were graduates of Europe’s top early music conservatories and recipients of numerous international awards. Through their historically informed approach and period instruments, they brought the sound world of early music vividly to life. Their visit to CCU not only presented a rare early music feast to the Chiayi community but also added an artistic highlight to the university’s anniversary celebration, allowing audiences to experience the timeless beauty of art that transcended centuries.