Cross-Cultural Music Lecture Series: When Chinese landscape painting meets Western classical music

Chinese landscape painting and Western classical music are two different art forms.  They seem to be unrelated due to their own historical development.  However, if we observe from a specific angle, the essence of these two arts is not only interlinked, but also closely connected.  This lecture series attempts to offer a fresh perspective in appreciating painting and music.  In addition, the speaker will use selected collections and exhibits from the Hong Kong Museum of Art as the subject of discussion, hence attendees will have the opportunity to see the authentic artworks before or after the lectures.

Speaker: William Ting 

5 Sep (Fri)
Lecture 1  Connect: The meeting point of Chinese painting and Western music 
Piano Demonstration: Chung Chi-woo

An introduction to the style and character of Chinese landscape painting and Western classical music of different periods.  More importantly, to explore the intersection of the two arts, as well as the similarities of their historical development.

12 Sep (Fri)
Lecture 2  Sublime: Fan Kuan and J.S. Bach 
Piano Demonstration: Chung Chi-woo

Although Fan Kuan and J.S. Bach lived in different eras over 700 years apart, their works whether in macroscopic structure or microcosmic details, have many similarities.  This lecture will explore the intersection of "Travelers Among Mountains and Streams" and "The Art of Fugue", two masterpieces in the history of Chinese painting and Western music.

19 Sep (Fri)
Lecture 3   Transcendent Elegance: Ni Zan and Mozart 
Piano Demonstration: William Ting

Ni Zan was an introvert from the Yuan Dynasty.  His paintings are peaceful, quiet and filled with elegance.  His brushstrokes are simple but profound.  In contrast, Mozart was an extrovert.  His music is energetic, graceful and straightforward on the surface level, but complex and sophisticated on a deeper level.  This talk attempts to uncover the inner world of the two artists and to explore the meanings as well as the aesthetic similarities behind their works.

26 Sep (Fri)
Lecture 4  Visual Melodies: Sound and Music in the Paintings 
Guest Speaker and Qin Demonstration: Chung Siu-sun

One may not aware that in addition to viewing, Chinese landscape painting can also be listened to.  These audible elements include both the “diegetic-sound” belonging to the characters inside the painting and the “non-diegetic sound" belonging to the viewers in front of the painting.  On the other hand, some Western painters are also masters of "drawing sound".  Not only did they write melodies and harmonies, but also integrate musical forms into the painting.

10 Oct (Fri)
Lecture 5  Ancient Worshipping: Dong Qichang and Brahms 
Piano Demonstration: Chung Chi-woo

Dong Qichang and Brahms are great masters who always have the ancients in their mind.  Both of them not only "imitated" the ancients, but also deliberately "misread" their predecessors.  On one hand, their work responded to the art history, and on the other hand, opened up a new path for their descendant.

17 Oct (Fri)
Lecture 6  The Beauty of Ugliness: Shitao and Beethoven 
Piano Demonstration: Chung Chi-woo

Shitao and Beethoven are two artists with strong “self-conscious".  Their works are rebellious and full of tension.  Occasionally, they even regard ugliness as a kind of beauty, subverting the tradition of their time.  As a general viewer or audience, how should we appreciate these "ugly" creations?

24 Oct (Fri)
Lecture 7  Deliberate blank: Silence and Emptiness in Music and Painting 
Piano Demonstration: Chung Chi-woo

"Deliberate blank" is a unique technique in Chinese ink painting.  The blank space not only inject "spiritual energy" into the painting, but also open up infinite imagination for the viewer.  On the other hand, Western composers also demonstrate their mastery of using “empty space”.  They can often express various concepts through different uses of "silence", giving the music a deeper meaning.

31 Oct (Fri)
Lecture 8  Inner Beauty: Fou Ts’ong and Huang Binhong 
Piano Demonstration: William Ting

People often say that Fou Ts’ong’s piano playing is full of oriental interest.  However, most of these discussions are mainly about how the pianist uses Chinese poetry to compare the works of Mozart, Chopin, Debussy, among others.  This lecture will explore how Chinese culture can be reflected in Fou Ts'ong's musical interpretation as well as his performance habits, and in what ways they are related to Huang Binhong’s paintings.

(Information provided by the speaker)

Conducted in Cantonese. Each lecture will run for about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Free seating. 

The programme does not represent the views of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. 

The presenter reserves the right to change the programmes and substitute the speakers or demonstrators.

Speaker and Piano Demonstration: William Ting

Having graduated from the Hong Kong Baptist University, William Ting received his Master Degree in Historical Musicology from the Royal Holloway, University of London, and is currently a life member of the International Association of Theatre Critics (Hong Kong). Being a local music critic, Ting's writings are widely published in art magazines, newspapers and on the Internet. As a musicologist, Ting has conducted numerous public lectures in recent years, including Baroque Music Lecture Series: Bach & Beyond in 2022

Piano Demonstration: Chung Chi-woo

Chung Chi-woo earned his Master degree in Piano Performance from the Manhattan School of Music in the United States. During his study, he has performed in solo recitals and chamber performances in various places in Europe and the United States, including the Bethlehem Chapel , Steinway Piano Hall and more, in addition to participated in many music festivals and master classes.

Guest Speaker and Qin Demonstration: Chung Siu-sun

Chung Siu-sun is general officer of Deyin Qin Society. Chung has performed in mainland China, Japan, the United States and Taiwan. Also, he compiled and interpreted the music of Song Dynasty poet Jiang Baishi at the University of Michigan. Recently, Chung contributed his expertise to the album "Gem of Ci Poetry Music"

(Information provided by the speakers)

Cross-Cultural Music Lecture Series: When Chinese landscape painting meets Western classical music

DATE

VENUE

PRICE

05.09.2025 (Fri)
19:30

12.09.2025 (Fri)
19:30

19.09.2025 (Fri)
19:30

26.09.2025 (Fri)
19:30

10.10.2025 (Fri)
19:30

17.10.2025 (Fri)
19:30

24.10.2025 (Fri)
19:30

31.10.2025 (Fri)
19:30

Lecture Hall, Hong Kong Space Museum

$80

BUY NOW

DATE

05.09.2025 (Fri)
19:30

12.09.2025 (Fri)
19:30

19.09.2025 (Fri)
19:30

26.09.2025 (Fri)
19:30

10.10.2025 (Fri)
19:30

17.10.2025 (Fri)
19:30

24.10.2025 (Fri)
19:30

31.10.2025 (Fri)
19:30

VENUE

Lecture Hall, Hong Kong Space Museum

PRICE

$80

BUY NOW

Tickets available from  17 July at all URBTIX outlets, self-service ticketing kiosks, on internet, by mobile app and telephone.

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).

Package Discount

For each purchase of standard tickets, the following concession applies: 10% off for any 2 lectures, 15 % off for any 3 lectures, 20% off for any 4 lectures or more.

Group Booking Discount

For each purchase of standard tickets, the following concession applies: 10% off for 4-9 tickets, 15% off for 10-19 tickets, 20% off for 20 or more tickets.

Patrons can enjoy only one of the above discount offers.

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Ticketing Enquiries: 3166 1100

Telephone Booking：3166 1288

Internet Booking: https://www.urbtix.hk/event-detail/13678

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