Revel in the joy of music at the EdUHK ArtFiesta Gala Concert

Staff members, students, alumni of EdUHK, and their family and friends enjoyed a night of mesmerising music at the Tsuen Wan Town Hall Auditorium on 2 April 2024. Organised by the Department of Cultural and Creative Arts (CCA) and supported by the MUsic Skills Enhancement Scheme (MUSES) as one of the celebratory events commemorating the 30th anniversary of the University, the EdUHK ArtFiesta Gala Concert included performances such as electroacoustic music, chamber music, and choral presentation of Tang poems. It ended with all musicians and musical groups performing “In Praise of Teachers”, a song dedicated to teachers for their devotion to the teaching profession and their students.

The concert opened with “The Groove is in the Groove” composed by Dr Leung Chi-hin from CCA. Played by Dr Philbert Li from the same department as the pianist and members of the EdUHK Music Innovation and Design Lab as e-Orch (electronic orchestra) performers, the piece combines the traditional sound of classical piano with digitalised sounds created by e-Orch musicians using tablet devices.

Dr Leung said he incorporated minimalistic compositional approaches to create transformative motive throughout the whole piece. The juxtaposition between sudden dramatic silence and restless rhythmic musical flow of the e-Orch stretched the audience’s imagination. From a visual perspective, the composed gesture of the pianist and the sometimes-exaggerated body movements of the e-Orch performers, as they created different sounds by tilting their tablets at different angles, produced an intriguing contrast.

After filling the hall with the cheeky and dreamy sensation of electroacoustic music, the concert moved on to chamber music performances. The first of which was the String Quintet in C Major, Op. 29 composed by Ludwig van Beethoven. Led by first violinist Mr Leung Kin-fung, who is an Honorary Artist-in-Residence at CCA, the string quintet played four movements of the work. Through sounds of the strings, the quintet led the audience to experience four emotional states from the assertive dynamism of the opening Allegro to the introspective lyricism of the Adagio, then to the rhythmic vivacity of the Scherzo before reaching its culmination in the robust vigour of the Presto.

The other string players of the quintet included Mr Lai Chun-hei as second violin, Mr Tang Wing-kwan and Mr Allen Cheung as violists, and Mr Man Tin-yung as the cellist. Chun-hei is currently studying a co-terminal double degree programme in Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Creative Arts and Culture and Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Music (DD(MU) programme), while Wing-kwan is pursuing a Master of Arts degree in music education, and Tin-yung is a first-year student majoring in music from the Bachelor of Arts in Creative Arts and Culture programme. After graduating from EdUHK with a bachelor degree in music, Allen pursued his endeavour in violin making.

The second chamber music played at the concert was Fantasy in F minor, D. 940, Op. 103 by Franz Schubert. Instead of playing Schubert’s masterpiece with four hands on one piano, Ms Sheryl Lee, an Honorary Artist-in-Residence, and student musician Ms Sammi Ng Sum-yi from DD(MU) programme performed the version arranged for two pianos by Harold Bauer. As the audience listened to the plaintive melodies, they were enthralled by Schubert's lyrical sensitivity onto a poignant and introspective journey into the depth of human sentiment.

After performing Schubert’s work, the concert presented Four Waltzes composed by Dmitri Shostakovich including Spring Waltz, Waltz-Joke, Barrel-Organ Waltz, and Waltz. Played by guest pianist and Honorary Artist-in-Residence Ms Colleen Lee, and student musicians Ms Daphnee Choy Ming-yan and Ms Adrianna Chui-Hei-wing, both from DD(MU) programme, as flutist and clarinetist respectively, the performance displayed the interplay between the woodwinds and piano which created a rich tapestry of sound that was both captivating and evocative.

The following part of the concert delved into the Chinese side of the musical world. After listening to electroacoustic music and western classical music, members of the audience enjoyed choral presentations of the three poems written by famous poets Cui Hu (崔護), Yuan Zhen (元稹), and Wang Wei (王維) from the Tang dynasty*. While Cui Hu’s poet “At a Homestead South of the Capital City” (題都城南莊) was composed into a song by alumni Mr Chu Siu-hin, Yuan Zhen’s “Thoughts of Separation” (離思) was turned into a song by Dr Leung Chi-hin. While faculty artist Dr Bobo Lo conducted the EdUHK Chorus to sing these two songs, the audience was transported back to the majestic atmosphere in the court of the Tang dynasty.

“Farewell to Yuan Er on His Mission to Anxi” (送元二使安西) was a poem written by Wang Wei—one of the most renowned poets of the Tang dynasty—when he bade farewell to his friend Yuan Er who was sent as a member of an envoy to the outpost town of Anxi which was thousands of miles away from Yang Pass. The poem, also known as the Song of Weicheng (渭城曲), became the inspiration for the song “The Three Refrains of the Yang Pass” (陽關三疊) in the Tang dynasty. On that evening, the audience had an opportunity to listen to the version of the song composed by faculty artist Professor Richard Tsang. The audience felt the sorrow of separation when the song was performed by the EdUHK Chorus under the conductorship of Dr Paulina Wong from CCA.

Dr Wong then invited all musicians who have performed on the night, including the EdUHK Chorus, Western Chamber Music Ensemble, EdSingers, and so forth, to come onstage to perform “In Praise of Teachers” (良師頌)** as the finale of the concert. The piece was the theme song of 1997 Teachers’ Day written by Mr Lau Chun-wah to celebrate the work of exemplary teachers for their dedication to the teaching profession. When the ensemble played and sang the version arranged by Dr Leung Chi-hin on that night, the sounds of piano, violin, viola, cello, clarinet and flute, and the beautiful voices of the choir members created a perfect harmony that reverberated throughout the entire auditorium.

Mr Caleb Yuen, a music teacher at Ying Wa College, and his other friends were invited by Dr Paulina Wong to attend the concert. He appreciated all the efforts the organiser has put into the music event. “It wasn't the first time I had heard ‘In Praise of Teachers’, but Dr Leung’s reharmonization of the original piece was excellent. I was touched by this musical arrangement of the song. The choir sang the song just perfectly,” Mr Yuen said.

Among the audience members were parents of Man Tin-yung, the CCA student who played the cello in the String Quintet. Mrs Man was very impressed by the gala concert. She said, “The choral singing of Tang poems was particularly stunning. I also like the musical piece performed by a piano and electronic devices. Although one is modern and the other is classical, their sounds blended together well.” Mr Man said this was the second time they listened to performances by EdUHK musical ensemble. “The concert was very warm. I can feel the strong bond between EdUHK students and their teachers. Tin-yung has been playing the cello since primary school. At EdUHK, he practises cello every night and enjoys the environment of the University very much.”

The audience was uplifted when all performing groups and musicians shared the stage for the final performance of the evening, “In Praise of Teachers”. It is a song of gratitude for teachers who have dedicated their lives to nurturing students. It is also a reminder for us that we need to work doubly hard to fulfil the University’s mission to provide the best teacher education. “This year marks the 30th anniversary of the institution. I hope everybody found the celebration event unforgettable and will continue to share the legacy of EdUHK. I hope to see you all in future CCA musical events where we can revel in the joy of music together again,” Dr Koji Matsunobu, Acting Head of CCA, said.

Notes:

*Original poems in Chinese and their English translations:

** Original lyrics and English translation of “In Praise of Teachers”: