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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present the concert "Ode to Plum Blossoms - The Artistry of Qian Zhaoxi" by the Windpipe Chinese Music Ensemble in May.
The concert will be performed by the Windpipe Chinese Music Ensemble under the leadership of Artistic Director Ho Man-chuen, and will feature the most famous works for dizi (Chinese flute) by Qian Zhaoxi. National Class One Dizi Performer, Zhan Yongming, who has premiered several of Qian's works, will perform as a soloist on this occasion. Also joining the concert is Choo Boon-chong (dizi), Chan Chi-yuk (dizi/chi), Chan Chi-chun (xun), Chak Yuet-man (abacus) and the Hong Kong Bamboo Flute Society, with introductions in Cantonese by Chan Chiu-yin. Together they will showcase the many facets of dizi music in 20th century China.
The entertaining programme will include "Moon in the Water" from "Searching for the West Lake in Dreams", "The Abacus Rondo", "Primitive Safari", "Ode to Plum Blossoms", "The Flying Partridges", "Chant of Brotherly Love", "Lovers' Sorrow" and more.
Compositions by Qian Zhaoxi (1936-2005) are distinguished by their interesting blend of traditional culture and modern aesthetics. He was a prolific composer, with a sizeable number of both original compositions and arrangements, mainly for dizi and related instruments. Some of them, such as "Chant of Brotherly Love", "Primitive Safari" and "Lovers' Sorrow", were winners in national and international competitions. They have also received the highest acclaim and attention, making Qian a highly influential composer in contemporary dizi music in China.
Zhan Yongming is a National Class One Musician and was presented with the title "An Expert with Outstanding Contribution (Young to Middle-aged Category)" by the State Council of China. Zhan, who received dizi training under dizi master Zhao Songting, has developed more than a dozen new performing techniques for the dizi, and has expanded the dizi repertoire with a large number of original compositions and arrangements. Some of his best-known works include "Listening to the Murmuring Spring", "A Daybreak in Spring on the West Lake", "A Joyful Song of Wujiang", "Reunion on Broken Bridge" and "The Story of Lan Hua Hua". He has given performances and lectures in many parts of the world, and has been praised as "The Magic Flute".
The Windpipe Chinese Music Ensemble, founded in 2003, focuses on the study of traditional Chinese folk music. It also dedicates itself to exploring modern Chinese ensemble music, as well as exhibiting the unique charms and styles of Chinese ensemble music as a whole. The Ensemble holds concerts, workshops, music camps, masterclasses, talks, cultural gatherings and exhibitions to introduce to the public works of both the traditional and modern repertoire in Chinese music, dizi music, Guangdong music culture in Hong Kong and original compositions by local composers. The Ensemble has represented Hong Kong in exchange performances in the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hunan, Zhejiang and Shanghai, taking the local culture of Chinese music to audiences in neighbouring and overseas cities.
"Ode to Plum Blossoms - The Artistry of Qian Zhaoxi" will be staged at 8pm on May 19 (Sunday) at the Auditorium of Kwai Tsing Theatre. Tickets priced at $160, $140 and $110 are now available at all URBTIX outlets, on the Internet and by credit card telephone booking. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and their minders, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (limited tickets for CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis). Please refer to programme leaflets for details of the group booking discount.
A pre-concert talk entitled "Tracing the Course of Chinese History - On the Dizi Music by Qian Zhaoxi", to be conducted in Putonghua, will be held at 7.30pm on May 16 (Thursday) at AC1, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Zhan Yongming will host the talk as speaker and will give live demonstrations. Music lovers should not miss this wonderful opportunity. Admission to the talk is free on a first-come, first-served basis.
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/program_250.html. For ticketing enquiries, please call 2734 9009. For credit card telephone booking, please call 2111 5999, and for Internet bookings, please visit www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Friday, April 19, 2013
Issued at HKT 10:00
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