The "Regional Music of China" Series welcomes you to the Hong Kong City Hall for the last in a trio of concerts this summer, highlighting traditional genres and styles of Chinese music. This upcoming concert, titled 'Virtuosic Tone, Lingering Rhyme', is curated and masterminded by Loo Sze-wang, an accomplished Hong Kong soloist on the sheng, the East Asian free-reed "mouth organ" to be spotlighted as the centerpiece of the show. Loo will be joined by a collective of about a dozen or so other performers—the majority of them conservatory-trained and veterans of the modern concert stage—on musical instruments that should look and sound familiar to most in the audience of Chinese music today. These include the bamboo flutes di and xiao, the plucked lutes pipa, sanxian, ruan, and yueqin, the plucked zither zheng, the hammered dulcimer yangqin, as well as an assortment of bowed fiddles and percussions, playing in a variety of solo and combo settings.
The programme sets out to present a kaleidoscope of tunes that epitomise the breadth of instrumental and vocal traditions from across the vast country. It ranges from the old ballad singing of Beijing (Listening to the Chimes on the Sword Mansion) to the memorable Cantonese miniatures (Autumn Moon over a Placid Lake and Stepping High), and from the northern styled operatic overtures ("Da-Qi-Ban"; lit., Grand Introduction) to the wind-and-percussion airs of ancient rituals ("Dian-Qian-Xi"; lit., Delights before the Palace). Some titles are more idiomatic to certain solo instrumental traditions (e.g., Melody of Hanjiang), while others invite to be heard through the lens of chamber instrumental ensembles (e.g., Sky of Apricot Blossoms). The diverse styles and textures presented by these pieces will be anchored by the sheng, which is featured on nearly the entire programme in varying instrumentations. Audience members well-versed in the modern repertoire should probably recognise a number of these tunes in their adapted forms as heard in recordings and public performances today; these adaptations will form the basis of the programme. Some other pieces are reconstructed in part from ethnographic recordings and transcriptions in published anthologies, speaking to the enthusiasm of these professional musicians who venture outside their accustomed repertoires to uncover the aural profiles of the past.
As its title suggests, the concert seeks to interpret these old melodies in ways that retain and reflect their original sensibilities, while also putting on a modern sense of virtuosity that speaks to the musicians' identity. Seasoned concertgoers who generally shun the folkloric kitsch in the post-1950s reformist repertoire will find solace in hearing the breadth of traditional styles and genres that may convincingly be adapted in the modern instrumental idioms. Music lovers and connoisseurs alike—who may or may not be passionate about the authentic repertoires showcased in the first two concerts of the series—will certainly enjoy the technical brilliance that defines this consort of skilled musicians. Overall, 'Virtuosic Tone, Lingering Rhyme' promises to offer a refreshing interpretation of some of the less commonly heard titles in Chinese music for the audience in Hong Kong.
Written by Wong Chuen-fung
Programme
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Sheng and Bangu Qudi, Sanxian, Huqin, Sheng, Zhongruan, Pipa and Percussion Guzheng, Yangqin and Ruan Yangqin and Sheng Lotus Clippers and Sheng Dizi, Sheng and Percussion Huqin, Sheng and Guzheng Pipa Solo Yueqin, Percussion and Sheng Sanxian, Sheng and Yangqin Sheng, Xiao, Guzheng and Yangqin Ensemble |
Grand Introduction Delights of Drunken Gods Melody of Hanjiang Sky of Apricot Blossoms Unlocking the Golden Lock Delights before the Palace Phrasing in Pairs Listening to the Chimes on the Sword Mansion Deep Night Speaking the Heart Autumn Moon over a Placid Lake, Stepping High Song of Haiqin |
The performance will run for about 1 hour and 45 minutes including a 15 minute intermission.
Audience is strongly advised to arrive punctually. Latecomers will only be admitted during the intermission or at a suitable break.
The presenter reserves the right to change the artists and programme.
Sheng: Loo Sze-wang, Yue Kin-long and
Pang Hong-tai
Dizi and Xiao: Kung Wai-kin
Pipa: Gao Sijia
Sanxian: Cass Lam
Yueqin and Ruan: Chan Sze-tung
Guzheng: Yeung Ching-ho
Percussion: Chak Yuet-man
Huqin: Yung Po-man and Wong Tsz-kei
Yangqin: Bryan Lai
20:00
Tickets available from 14 May at URBTIX outlets, on Internet, mobile ticketing app and credit card telephone booking.
Half-price tickets available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and the minder, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (limited tickets for CSSA recipients available on a first come, first served basis).
Group Booking Discount
For each purchase of standard tickets for programme(s) in ‘Regional Music of China Series’, the following concession applies:
10% off for 4-9 standard tickets; 15% off for 10-19 standard tickets; 20% off for 20 or more standard tickets.
‘Regional Music of China Series’ Package Discount
10% off for each purchase of standard tickets of any 2 programmes; 15% off for all 3 programmes.
Patrons can enjoy only one of the above discount offers.
Programme Enquiries: 2268 7321
Ticketing Enquiries：3761 6661
Credit Card Telephone Booking：2111 5999
Internet Booking：www.urbtix.hk
03.09.2021 (Fri) 20:00
$240
20:00
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