The culture week gathers five groups of representative Mexican artists - the Tambuco Percussion Ensemble, the University of Colima Folkloric Ballet, Eugenia Leon, Tania Perez-Salas and the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra - to present a week of unique Mexican charm. 　

The week started with a concert featuring the Grammy-nominated Tambuco Percussion Ensemble last Friday. 　　

"Percussion music has a big history in Mexico tracing back to the 1940s. Carlos Chavez wrote a piece called Tambuco because the pronunciation of the word has a percussion feeling. We loved his music and named our group after this piece," says Ricardo Gallardo, director of the ensemble. 　　

Other members of the quartet are Raul Tudon, Alfredo Bringas and Miguel Gonzalez. Gallardo, Tudon and Bringas went to music conservatory together to study percussion. 　　

Gonzalez is the youngest and he joined the group four years ago when the fourth member of the quartet moved to Europe. 　　This year marks a milestone for the ensemble. Their latest album, "Carlos Chavez Complete Chamber Music Vol III," was nominated in the 48th Grammy Awards for both Best Small Ensemble Performance and Best Classical Album. 　　

The quartet refuses to be tied down to one style and one instrument. Rather, they use every possible musical or non-musical instrument, presenting highly rhythmic and unorthodox percussion sounds. 　　

"We work with composers all over the world." says Gallardo. "Such opportunities offer us exposure to thousands of pieces of distinctive music." 　　

As first-time visitors to China, the quartet gave their salute by incorporating a Chinese bass drum in their concert last Friday. 　　The percussionists couldn't resist the temptation to shop. 　　

"It is so amazing. We bought so many Chinese drums in Shanghai," says Gonzalez, "I hope they can all fit in the luggage." 　

On stage tonight for the cultural week will be Eugenia Leon, the Mexican vocal diva. 　　

Considered by many the best singer of her country, Leon is also internationally acclaimed and recognized as one of the most famous and successful Spanish-speaking singers. 　

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