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A concert in Hong Kong next month will feature music played on ancient Chinese instruments.
"The Wind and Silk & Ruan Music - Concert of Ancient Chinese Instruments Revived and Improved Models of the Ruan by Yuen Shi-chun" is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
Performing at the concert will be artistic director Yuen Shi-chun (ruan/pipa/qinqin), conductor Bosco Kwok, chief musician Lem Ling-ling (ruan), Chang Yung-chin (ruan), Chan Hing-yan (gaohu), Yu Siu-wah (yehu), Ho Kang-ming (pipa), Chu Siu-wai (dizi/xiao), Loo Sze-wang (sheng), Tse Chun-yan (guqin), Chan Pui-lun and Eddy Tse (percussions), as well as members of Ruan Music.
The programme includes wind and string music "The Lotus that Rises above the Water", ruanxian of the Tang form and guqin "Liquormania", Ming-style pipa "Falling Flowers Colouring the Green", Qing-style qilu qinqin "Jingling Bells of the Hungry Horse", ruanxian ensemble (with percussion accompaniment) "Sending the Tiger Back to Its Mountain Hideout", and bass ruanxian solo (with dab accompaniment) "The Sound of Camel Bells on the Silk Road".
Yuen Shi-chun was born into a family of architects in Hong Kong. He joined the newly formed Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra in 1974 and was appointed liuqin principal. He has been its Research and Development Officer (Musical Instrument) since the position was created in 2003. Yuen is currently also serving as an executive member of the China Nationalities Orchestra Society and a consultant to many manufacturers of musical instruments in China and other parts of the world. He was presented with the "Award for Arts Achievement (Music)" by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council in 2003. Yuen has performed in more than 2,500 concerts with the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. He dedicates his spare time to the revival, design, research and making of Chinese instruments, including the Tang-style ruanxian, the crooked-neck pipa, the five-string pipa, the Qing-style qinqin. The eco-huqin series that he first developed in 2005 has since turned out new models of the gaohu, erhu, zhonghu, gehu and double-bass gehu that have been adopted by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. Yuen has opened up new horizons in academic research and in the performing arts, influencing the international music scene and academic sectors.
The modified instruments he created have been used by many radio and television stations for recording and making of documentary features. He has given performing tours and talks in Asia, Europe, America and Australia. The two families of modified instruments are now used by dozens of Chinese orchestras all over the world. The Taipei Liuqin Ensemble, founded by Yuen in 1993, has become a notable name on the Taiwan music scene and in other parts of the world, having produced three records and performed hundreds of concerts in Taiwan, the Mainland and other places. It has added diversity to Chinese music and paved new ways for its development.
The concert will be at 8pm on March 13 (Saturday) at the Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall. Tickets priced at $200 and $150 are now available all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concessions will be granted to senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients. (Limited tickets for students and CSSA recipients are available on a first-come, first-served basis.)
For programme enquiries, call 2268 7321; for ticketing enquiries and reservations call 2734 9009. Internet bookings are available at www.urbtix.hk . For credit card telephone bookings, call 2111 5999. Visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp for more information on the programme.
Ends/Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Issued at HKT 12:00
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