1960年代,臺灣的民族意識抬頭,由海外留學歸國的音樂家史惟亮、許常惠所發起的首次「民歌採集運動」,嘗試透過臺灣各民族音樂的採集、整理與研究進而創造當代音樂,同時發展音樂學術環境,一直持續到1978年為止,採集之民族囊括福佬、客家與南島語族等。此運動除了在臺灣音樂研究史中佔有一席之地外,更是民族音樂學在臺灣被接受與發展的重要里程碑。
展覽搜羅50年前相關文物與報章,凸顯當時此運動在臺灣所掀起的風潮,更循著兩位音樂家的採集路線,至採集現場拍攝動態錄像,搭配當年採集、錄製的民族歌曲,於展場中猶如親臨現場般重現。
In the 1960s, musicians returned to Taiwan and started to collect folk music in Taiwan until 1978. This collection covers a wide range of ethnic groups, and plays an important role in music history studies in Taiwan. Trace & Reveal Folk Music In Taiwan displays historical objects and media coverage when ethnomusicology emerged in Taiwan. We can also follow their path, and listen to these sounds at the places where they were collected.