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The giant pipe organ in the Concert Hall of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) is a key attraction for visitors. Hand-made by the famous Austrian manufacturer Rieger Orgelbau, the musical instrument is the largest mechanical tracker action organ in Southeast Asia.
To celebrate the joyful Christmas season with beautiful organ music, the HKCC will organise "King of the Instruments" – Organ Education Series 2007 Graduates Christmas Concert at its Concert Hall at 8.30pm tomorrow (December 18). Performers will be the graduates of the 2007 Series, including the first batch of adult participants and their teachers Chiu Siu Ling, Simon Chan Sheung-chi and Irene Yip Chui-leung. Admission to the concert is free.
Highlights include classical music such as Bach's "Organ Concerto No. 2, 1st Movement, BWV593" and "In Dir Ist Freude, BWV 615"; Handel's "Joy to the World" and "For Unto Us a Child is Born"; Boellmann's "Menuet Gothique from Suite Gothique, 2nd Movement, Op. 25"; Redner's "O Little Town of Bethlehem"; Blair's "Fantasy in C for Old Christmas Carols"; D'aquin's "Noel No. 10 Grand Jeu Et Duo"; Lasky's "Intonation on 'We Three Kings of Orient Are'"; pop music and Christmas songs like Webber's "Music of the Night", Adam's "Minuit Chretien (O Holy Night)", Anderson's "Sleigh Ride" and Coots' "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town"; and traditional melodies like "Angel We Have Heard on High", "The First Noel" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".
To promote interest in and appreciation of organ music in the community, the HKCC frequently organises free pipe organ concerts and education programmes. The "King of the Instruments" - Organ Education Series has been held since 1999 to provide secondary school students with systematic training in basic organ performance techniques. Adults were also admitted to the programme from 2007.
All participants learn and practise on the Rieger Organ. The programme is conducted in Cantonese. For enquiries, please call 2734 2009 (the concert), 2734 2819 or 2734 2820 (the Organ Education Series) or visit the website: www.hkculturalcentre.gov.hk.
Ends/Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:58
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