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The following is issued on behalf of the Provisional Urban Council:

Two rhythmic and joyful concerts, "Cantonese Nursery Rhymes, Lullabies and Oldies" and "Percussion Carnival" will be staged respectively at the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall on January 8, 2000 (Saturday) at 8 pm, and at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall on January 9 (Sunday) at 3 pm.

Percussion music like "Cartoon Music", "El Cumbanchero" and "Petits Enfants", and children's songs such as "Whose Little Rooster? Whose? Guess? !", "The Little Rooster" and "Side by Side" are familiar tunes to the children.

Cantonese nursery rhymes and children's songs, illustrating facets of children's life, were created mainly from children at play. They are lively, vivid and beauty in the simplest form.

The "Cantonese Nursery Rhymes, Lullabies and Oldies" will render more than 20 nursery rhymes and children's songs on January 8, including lullabies such as "Moonlight Lullaby", "Sleep, Baby, Sleep" and "Row to Grandma's Bridge"; the teasing "Count the Flies" and "Bathing Song"; the playful "Circle Game"; "What Time Is It, Mr Fox?" and "The Autumn Wind Blows".

The Hong Kong Children's Choir and its dancing group will perform in the coming concert, together with Erhu virtuoso Hsin Hsiao-ling, Dizi player Tam Po-shek, pianist Cheng Wai and Guzheng player Ma Wai-ching. The Choir's principle conductor Kathy Fok, Erhu virtuoso Hsin Hsiao-hung and the famous singer Shirley Yuen will be the music director, music advisor and compere respectively.

All kinds of percussion instruments will render a variety of repertoires in the "Percussion Carnival" on January 9, including the Hong Kong premiere "Ionisation" and Beethoven's "Scherzo from Symphony No. 9"; work for percussion ensemble without instruments "Be-Boppin" and percussion quartet "Fang Yuan Fang Yuan"; African and Caribbean music "Story in an African Village" and "Evolution of Steel Drum". The performers will be in carnival dresses and the concert will be in African setting.

Audience can participate in the coming "Percussion Carnival". They are invited to bring in handy percussion instruments, put on carnival dresses and join in the fun. Face painting will be provided 40 minutes before the show.

Under the baton of Yip Wing-sie, a talented Resident Conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, together with the music director Lung Heung-wing who is a famous percussionist, the Hong Kong Percussion Group and the Island Sun Drum which is a Brazilian and African drumming group will perform in the coming carnival.

Presented by Provisional Urban Council, tickets of the "Cantonese Nursery Rhymes, Lullabies and Oldies" are $130, $100 and $70; while those of "Percussion Carnival" are $130, $100, $80 and $60. All are now available at all URBRIX outlets with half price concession for senior citizens, people with disabilities and full time students.

A special 10 per cent discount is also available for each purchase of tickets for the concerts "Percussion Carnival" and "Cantonese Nursery Rhymes, Lullabies & Oldies". Programme enquires can be made at 2734 2007 (Cantonese Nursery Rhymes, Lullabies & Oldies) and at 2734 2929 (Percussion Carnival), and reservations at 2734 9009.

END/Thursday, December 23, 1999

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