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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department's "Nan Lian Garden Music Series" will present "Concert by Wind and Silk" in February.
In the old days, people in the Guangdong region would often use their leisure time to gather in small groups under a banyan tree and play their musical instruments. Whether in cities, town or villages, they played with great camaraderie, enjoying each others company and music. They also played with imagination and inspiration, and enjoyed the freedom to innovate. These gatherings were a source of great enjoyment for players and listeners alike. For this concert, veteran musicians have been invited to perform famous Cantonese tunes and songs to bring back memories of those happy moments.
Titled "String Now and Yore", the concert of February 19 features music played on restored and remodeled ancient Chinese musical instruments. The concert of February 23, "Sounds of Yesteryear" will feature popular Cantonese music, showcasing the delightful neighbourhood melodies of the old days in Guangdong.
The ruan has a history of over two thousand years and is one of the oldest plucked string instruments in China. After modifications and improvements were made in the 1950's, the ruan became a standard instrument in Chinese orchestras. The models commonly used in today's orchestra are the soprano, the tenor and the bass ruan. "Ruan Music" is an ensemble founded in Hong Kong in 2006 dedicated to the performance of music using the ruan family of instruments. Its chairman, Lem Ling-ling, plays the xiaoruan; the conductor is Kwok Kin-ming and the Artistic Adviser is Yuen Shi-chun. Other seasoned virtuosi of Chinese music are among its list of advisers.
Detail of the performances are as follows:
February 19 (Tuesday) 8pm
Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall
"String Now and Yore"
Programme includes: Remodeled ruanxian quintet plays "Fantasia of Thunder in a Drought" (world première), Ming-style pipa and Tang-style ruanxian "Liyun Chunsi", Ming-style pipa and dongxiao "Qinglian Yuefu", remodeled ruanxian ensemble "Sketches of Life in the North", yueqin solo "In the Deep of the Night", xiaoruan solo "Domra Concerto" (Hong Kong Première), Qing-style qilu qinqin leading "Rain Lashing on the Plantain", ruanxian ensemble "A Chivalrous Hero" (Hong Kong première) and more.
Performers: Ruan Music, Yuen Shi-chun (Producer, ruanxian, qinqin), Kwok Kin-ming (Conductor), Lui Kwan-on (yueqin), Ho Kang-ming (pipa, zheng), So Si-tai (dongxiao, dizi), To Wing (yehu), Lem Ling-ling (xiaoruan) and Ho Tung-kau (percussion).
Ticket price: $220, $150
February 23 (Saturday), 2.30pm
Xiang Hai Xuan Multi-purpose Hall, Nan Lian Garden
"Sounds of Yesteryear"
Programme includes: Ensemble plays "The Lotus Rising from the Water", Ming-style pipa and dongxiao "Qinglian Yuefu", Ming-style pipa solo "Pines Flecked with Snowflakes", Tang-style ruanxian solo "Liquormania", Tang-style ruanxian leading "Three Variations on the Weeping Willows", Qing-style qilu qinqin leading "Jingling Bells of the Hungry Horse", "Rain Lashing on the Plantain" and "Triratna Buddha" and more.
Performers: Yuen Shi-chun (Producer, ruanxian, qinqin), Ho Kang-ming (pipa, zheng), So Si-tai (dongxiao), To Wing (yehu) and Ho Tung-kau (percussion).
Ticket price: $220 (Open seating)
Tickets 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 students and CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis). For more information about group and series booking discounts, please refer to the programme leaflet or the Nan Lian Garden Music Series programme brochure.
Other attractions of the Nan Lian Garden Music Series include "Erhu Recital by Wang Guotong", "Japanese Koto Concert", "Fujian Nanyin Concert" and "When Petals Fall in serenity..." Pipa Recital by Wong Chi-ching.
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321; for ticketing enquiries call 2734 9009. For credit card telephone bookings, call 2111 5999. Internet bookings are available at www.urbtix.hk. For more information, visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/program_113.html.
Ends/Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Issued at HKT 13:00
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