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The three leading members of the Deyin Qin Society will give guqin recitals next month in the Xiang Hai Xuan Multi-purpose Hall of the Nan Lian Garden.
One of the founding members of the Deyin Qin Society, Lau Chor-wah, will give a silk string guqin recital at 7.30pm on January 11, 2014 (Saturday). Featuring guest performers Chung Siu-sun (xiao), Chan Chun-miu (vocal) and Lee Heung-sing (recitation), the programme will include "Autumn Thoughts" and "Song of Bliss" as well as the guqin solos "Water Immortal", "Floating on the Canglang", "Memories of an Old Friend" and "Three Variations on the Plum Blossoms".
Lau Chor-wah began learning the qin as a young student under Madam Tsar Teh-yun, and has now played the qin for over 40 years. She has actively promoted the qin culture since the 1980s and frequently performs and gives related lectures in Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Mainland and Europe. She participated in recordings of various CD collections of qin music. Lau is a professor in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature of the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) and Director of the Center for Chinese Cultural Heritage of HKBU. She is also an instrumental instructor in the Music Department of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).
The second recital will be performed by the chairman of the Deyin Qin Society, Sou Si-tai. He will collaborate with guest performers Cheung Lai-chun (vocal) and Chung Siu-sun (xiao) in playing "Sorrow at the Lady's Home" and "Lamenting the Past", as well as performing the guqin solos "Sorrow at River Xiang", "Autumn Thoughts at Lake Dongting", "Flowing Water", "Returning Home", "Thinking of an Old Friend on the Mountain" and "Mist and Cloud over Rivers Xiao and Xiang". The recital will take place at 7.30pm on January 18, 2014 (Saturday).
Sou Si-tai learned the xiao and dizi from Wong Kuen in his early years. He later learned the qin from Madam Tsar Teh-yun, and learned qin making from Choi Chang-sau. He is currently an instrumental instructor on the qin in the Music Departments of CUHK and HKBU. For many years, Sou has been involved in activities related to the qin, including research, reconstruction of old scores and qin-making. He has co-ordinated Qin exhibitions in HK and Macau. He frequently participates in performances on the Mainland and in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Europe and the United States, as well as giving related talks, demonstrations, teachings and recordings.
Tse Chun-yan will perform in a recital to be held at 7.30pm on January 19, 2014 (Sunday). Currently the vice-chairman of the Deyin Qin Society, Tse will play solo classics including "Memories of an Old Friend", "Soaring Dragon", "Jade Pendants in a Heavenly Breeze", "Secluded Orchid" and "Drunken Elation", and will join Wu Yun-kan (xiao) and Yu Mei-lai (vocal) in performing "Longing for the Lover", "Memory of Flute Playing at the Phoenix Terrace", "Falling Plum Blossoms" and "We Three".
Tse Chun-yan learned the zheng from Choi Ngar-si and music theory and composition under Kwan Sing-yau. He then studied the qin under Kwan Sing-yau, Lau Chor-wah and then Tsar Teh-yun. He has performed frequently in Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas. For many years, Tse has taken part in composition, the reconstruction of old scores and qin promotion, teaching and research. One of his compositions, titled "Composition in yifan mode", has been selected as one of the test pieces in the Grade 6 qin examination on the Mainland. He has also published numerous research articles on the qin, including "Musicology in China". Tse is an adjunct assistant professor and an instrumental instructor on the qin in the Music Department of CUHK.
The above recitals are programmes in the Nan Lian Garden Music Series presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Tickets priced at $220 (free seating) are now available at URBTIX outlets, on the Internet and by telephone credit card 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 students and CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis). A maximum discount of 20 per cent is offered for the Nan Lian Garden Music Series and group booking packages. Please refer to the programme leaflet for discount details.
The Nan Lian Garden Music Series also includes "Recital on Silk String Guqin by Wang Duo" (December 29), "Guqin Recital by Cheng Gongliang and Dai Xiaolian" (February 8, 2014) and "Guqin Recital by Zeng Chengwei and Zeng He" (February 15, 2014).
For enquiries on the programme and lectures, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/program_406.html. Ticketing enquiries can be made on 2734 9009 and telephone credit card bookings on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Issued at HKT 10:01
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