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The Eight Schools: Zheng Music Down the Ages


Sounds that transcend two thousand years

It is said that the best selling Chinese instrument in Hong Kong is the guzheng. Any informal survey would also show you that it is the favourite choice among people who want to learn Chinese instruments.

One possible reason is that it is easy to learn and easy to play. But the truth is, once you hear the sound of the instrument and your heart's strings are plucked, you would want to learn to play it yourself.

The attraction of the zheng also lies in the fact that its evolution of more than two thousand years has resulted in different schools and styles of playing. In this concert series, two virtuosi of the HKCO, Choi Ngar-si and Luo Jing, will not only play the instrument but also give a lively talk on everything you need to know about the zheng - historical facts, interesting anecdotes, how to play, the various performing combinations (solo, zheng and xiao duet, trio, tutti, ensemble, concerto, singing and playing, accompanied singing…) etc.. They will demonstrate the different features of the eight schools of zheng music through representative works. So, if you are interested in knowing more about this ancient Chinese instrument, join us for an enlightening evening to enrich your soul.
# If you have not been to the area around Tsuen Wan Town Hall for a long time, why not make it a half-day out? Visit the interesting streets and shops in the vicinity and enjoy good food before attending the concert. But remember – get your tickets first, because seats in the Cultural Activities Hall are limited.


Programme Highlights:

The programme covers three main types of zheng music:

(1) The Southern Schools: representative works of the Chaozhou School such as Fish Hawks Dabbling in the Cold Water, A Song of Autumn Thoughts and Yi-Dian-Jin; that of the Hakka and Lingnan Schools such as Rain-lashed Banana Tree by the Window and The Toll of Monastery Bells.

(2) The Northern Schools: Song of the Mulberry Fields represents the Shaanxi School, while three versions of High Mountains and Flowing Water will be played to demonstrate the different features of the Shandong, Henan and Zhejiang Schools.

(3) Modern School: Pieces such as Song of the Homebound Fishermen, Battle Against the Typhoon, Liuyang River, The Fragrance of Jasmine etc. will demonstrate the development trends of zheng music from the 1930s up to the 1990s.

# As the programmes for the three concerts are not the same, it might be a good suggestion to get tickets for both so that you will have an all-round musical experience of the zheng.

 

Know your Chinese music:

The strings, the bridges and the picks

The number of strings of the zheng shows its development. While the modern version has 16, 18, 25 or 26 strings, its earliest model, the Qin zheng, which appeared more than two thousand years ago during the Warring States Period (403-221 B.C.), had only 5. By the Han and Jin periods (206 B.C. – A.D. 420), it was said to have 12 strings. But it took 1,300 years or more, that is, by the time of the Tang and Song Dynasties (618-1279), to have one string added, making it 13. In the next few centuries, the number of strings kept increasing: 14 to 15 during the Ming and Qing periods (1368-1911), and 16 in the early part of the 20th Century.

But the demand for a wider range of sound and expression led to a much quicker increase in the number of strings in the modern zheng. The traditional model now has 25 or 26 strings; the model with a pedal modulator has 44 strings; and that with the bi-pedal modulator, 49 strings.

The strings are traditionally made of silk. In the early part of the 20th Century, copper wires were used. By the 1930s, the steel wire appeared. But it was not until the 1960s that the use of metal wires grew common. Towards the end of the 1960s, there was the invention of copper- or nylon-coiled strings.

The bridges are usually made of hard wood, and the shapes vary from the inverted V to the gourd, the pyramid and the "flowing water".

The player plucks the strings with picks worn on the finger nails, called "simulated nails". In the past, only tortoise shell was used to make the "nails", but now, as the tortoise is categorized as a protected species, plastic "nails" are used instead.


Guided Concert (in Cantonese)
26.2.2004(Thu)10:00am
27.2.2004(Fri)2:30pm
Tsuen Wan Town Hall Cultural Activities Hall
$35 (Flat rate)URBTIX

Navigator, Zheng : Choi Ngar-si
Zheng : Luo Jing

History of zheng will be briefly introduced. Famous zheng music of different
schools wil be performed.

 

 

Programme


27 - 28/2 Full House, Limited Ticket Available on Other Performances.


25.2.2004 (Wed)

Ensemble Flower and Youth Qinghai Folk Song Arr. by Liu Xuezhong
Performed by JHKCO Zheng Group

Introduction of Three Different Schools of High Mountains and Flowing Water
Shandong School (Adapted by Gao Zichen)
Solo: Luo Jing
Henan School (Complied by Cao Dongfu)
Solo: Choi Ngar-si
Zhejiang School (Hon Sze-Wah's recital scores)
Solo: Luo Jing

Trio Song of the Mulberry Fields Zhou Yanjia Arr. by Qiu Dacheng
Performed by: Choi Ngar-si,
Tse Wan-ni, Tse Yee-ni (Members of JHKCO Zheng Group)

Solo Rain-lashed Banana Tree by the Window Zhongzhou Ancient Melody
Solo: Luo Jing

Zheng & Xiao Duet The Toll of Monasatery Bells Cui Weilin Orch. by Tam Po-shek
Zheng: Choi Ngar-s Dongxiao: Tam Po-shek

Tutti The Fragrance of Jasmine He Zhanhao
Performed by Tse Wan-ni, Tse Yee-ni (Members of JHKCO Zheng Group)

Singing & Playing School Boy Song Yang Arr. by Choi Ngar-si
Performed by Junior HKCO Zheng Group

Chaozhou Steel-wire Zheng Solo
A Song of Autumn Thoughts from the notation of Guo Ying
Solo: Choi Ngar-si

Tutti The Glory of the Glorious from the notation of Liang Zaiping Transcribed by Cao Zheng
Performed by Junior HKCO Zheng Group

olo Liuyang River Tang Biguang Arr. by Zhang Yan
Solo: Choi Ngar-si
Solo Lin Chong’s Escape at Night Arr. by Wang Xunzhi
Solo: Luo Jing

Ensemble Song of the General Zhejiang Zheng Music Arr. by Yu Chun-fung
Performed by Junior HKCO Zheng Group

26.2.2004 (Thur)

Ensemble Flower and Youth Qinghai Folk Song Arr. by Liu Xuezhong
Performed by JHKCO Zheng Group

Introduction of Three Different Schools of High Mountains and Flowing Water
Shandong School (Adapted by Gao Zichen)
Solo: Luo Jing
Henan School (Complied by Cao Dongfu)
Solo: Choi Ngar-si
Zhejiang School (Hon Sze-Wah's recital scores)
Solo: Luo Jing

Trio Song of the Mulberry Fields Zhou Yanjia Arr. by Qiu Dacheng
Performed by: Choi Ngar-si,
Tse Wan-ni, Tse Yee-ni (Members of JHKCO Zheng Group)

Solo Rain-lashed Banana Tree by the Window Zhongzhou Ancient Melody
Solo: Luo Jing

Chaozhou Steel-wire Zheng Solo
Fish Hawks Dabbling in the Cold Water from the notation of Guo Ying
Solo: Choi Ngar-si

Tutti Yi-Dian-Jin from the notation of Guo Ying
Performed by Junior HKCO Zheng Group

Zheng & Xiao Duet The Toll of Monasatery Bells Cui Weilin Orch. by Tam Po-shek
Zheng: Choi Ngar-s Dongxiao: Tam Po-shek

Modern Zheng Music
Solo Song of the Homebound Fishermen Arr. by Lou Shuhua Complied by Cao Zheng
Solo: Choi Ngar-si

Solo The Brave Sisters of the Grassland Adapted by Zhang Yan
Solo: Luo Jing

Tutti The Fragrance of Jasmine He Zhanhao
Performed by Tse Wan-ni, Tse Yee-ni (Members of JHKCO Zheng Group)

Singing & Playing School Boy Song Yang Arr. by Choi Ngar-si
Performed by Junior HKCO Zheng Group

Tutti Battle Against the Typhoon Wang Changyuen
Performed by Junior HKCO Zheng Group

27.2.2004 (Fri)

Ensemble Flower and Youth Qinghai Folk Song Arr. by Liu Xuezhong
Performed by JHKCO Zheng Group

Introduction of Three Different Schools of High Mountains and Flowing Water
Shandong School (Adapted by Gao Zichen)
Solo: Luo Jing
Henan School (Complied by Cao Dongfu)
Solo: Choi Ngar-si
Zhejiang School (Hon Sze-Wah's recital scores)
Solo: Luo Jing

Trio Song of the Mulberry Fields Zhou Yanjia Arr. by Qiu Dacheng
Performed by: Choi Ngar-si,
Tse Wan-ni, Tse Yee-ni (Members of JHKCO Zheng Group)

Solo Rain-lashed Banana Tree by the Window Zhongzhou Ancient Melody
Solo: Luo Jing

Chaozhou Steel-wire Zheng Solo
A Song of Autumn Thoughts from the notation of Guo Ying
Solo: Choi Ngar-si

Tutti The Glory of the Glorious from the notation of Liang Zaiping Transcribed by Cao Zheng
Performed by Junior HKCO Zheng Group

Zheng & Xiao Duet The Toll of Monasatery Bells Cui Weilin Orch. by Tam Po-shek
Zheng: Choi Ngar-s Dongxiao: Tam Po-shek

Modern Zheng Music
Tutti The Fragrance of Jasmine He Zhanhao
Performed by Tse Wan-ni, Tse Yee-ni (Members of JHKCO Zheng Group)
Solo Liuyang River Tang Biguang Arr. by Zhang Yan
Solo: Choi Ngar-si
Solo Lin Chong’s Escape at Night Arr. by Wang Xunzhi
Solo: Luo Jing

Singing & Playing School Boy Song Yang Arr. by Choi Ngar-si
Performed by Junior HKCO Zheng Group

Ensemble Song of the General Zhejiang Zheng Music Arr. by Yu Chun-fung
Performed by Junior HKCO Zheng Group

28.2.2004 (Sat)

Ensemble Flower and Youth Qinghai Folk Song Arr. by Liu Xuezhong
Performed by JHKCO Zheng Group

Introduction of Three Different Schools of High Mountains and Flowing Water
Shandong School (Adapted by Gao Zichen)
Solo: Luo Jing
Henan School (Complied by Cao Dongfu)
Solo: Choi Ngar-si
Zhejiang School (Hon Sze-Wah's recital scores)
Solo: Luo Jing

Trio Song of the Mulberry Fields Zhou Yanjia Arr. by Qiu Dacheng
Performed by: Choi Ngar-si,
Tse Wan-ni, Tse Yee-ni (Members of JHKCO Zheng Group)

Solo Rain-lashed Banana Tree by the Window Zhongzhou Ancient Melody
Solo: Luo Jing

Chaozhou Steel-wire Zheng Solo
Fish Hawks Dabbling in the Cold Water from the notation of Guo Ying
Solo: Choi Ngar-si

Tutti Yi-Dian-Jin from the notation of Guo Ying
Performed by Junior HKCO Zheng Group

Zheng & Xiao Duet The Toll of Monasatery Bells Cui Weilin Orch. by Tam Po-shek
Zheng: Choi Ngar-s i Dongxiao: Tam Po-shek

Modern Zheng Music
Solo Dance of the Yi Tribe Wang Huiran Choi Ngar-si’ recital scores
Solo: Choi Ngar-si
Solo Twelve Mukam Overtures and Dance Music Zhou Ji, Shao Guangshen
Solo: Luo Jing
Tutti A Fu Poem Written in Guizhou Xu Xiaolin
Performed by Choii Ngar-si,
Tse Yee-ni (Members of JHKCO Zheng Group)

Singing & Playing School Boy Song Yang Arr. by Choi Ngar-si
Performed by Junior HKCO Zheng Group

Ensemble Song of the General Zhejiang Zheng Music Arr. by Yu Chun-fung
Performed by Junior HKCO Zheng Group
Date: 25-28.2.2004
Time: 8:00 pm
Venue:
Tsuen Wan Town Hall
Cultural Activities Hall
$100


Choi Ngar-si/Navigator, Zheng

  • Renowned guzheng player. Choi Ngar-si is currently the guzheng musician of Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. She has been the instructor at The Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts and the Music Department of The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Choi set up the "Choi Ngar-si Zheng Ensemble" in 1973.
  • Choi has produced a publication Introduction to Zheng, and has made recordings for teaching materials. Choi has rearranged more than 30 works for zheng ensemble. Her name has been included in the Who's Who of China's Contemporary Music Circles.


Luo Jing/Zheng

  • Luo Jing was a young guzheng performer with the Shanghai National Music Orchestra. She has been a member of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra since 2002. She has a solid groundwork in guzheng performance. Her artistic style is tranquil, relaxed and refreshing.
  • Luo has been twice presented with the Music Performance Award of the Spring of Shanghai since 1993 and won a Class Two Award in the Youth Section at the Oriental Cup National Guzheng Competition in 1995. She was invited to give guzheng solo recitals in the United States and Shanghai in 1999 and 2001 respectively.


Tam Po-shek/Dongxiao

  • A well-known dongxiao and dizi artist and a dongxiao maker, Tam Po-shek was trained in the Lingnan school. His techniques on the dongxiao are an assimilation of the traditional and the modern, thus forming a style that is uniquely his own.
  • Over the years, Tam has made tremendous contribution to the art of the dongxiao through performing and instrument-making. In 1987, he invented the bass dongxiao and the fixed-pitch dongxiao series. He has written more than 30 compositions in recent years.


Junior Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra

  • The Junior Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra was set up by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra with the purpose of providing the young people of Hong Kong more opportunities to come into contact with or to have a closer understanding of the rich and age-old long music culture of China. On 1 August, 2003, the Orchestra made its debut at the performance of "A Precious Little Baby", playing Dance of the Golden Snakes.
  • The Junior Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra was set up in January, 2003, with a current establishment of 109. The instruments of the Orchestra include the erhu, cello, double bass, liuqin, pipa, yangqin, zhongruan, dizi, sheng, suona and percussion. The structure and the size are close to those of a full-scale Chinese orchestra.