An amazing journey to traverse three millennia of history, from dynastic China to cosmopolitan Hong Kong

To mark the occasion of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra’s upcoming 40th season, we have prepared a magnificent vista that transcends time and space. The theme is to bridge the glorious dynasties of ancient China – Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang – with Hong Kong of today. The four dynasties may well be the most glorious age of Chinese civilization: Zhou has given China The Book of Rites, The Book of Changes, and the inspiring schools of thoughts of the ancient philosophers; Qin unified the Central Plains and set uniform systems in writing, weights and measures; Han sent the first envoys to the West, a feat that opened up the links between China and the rest of the world; and Tang was the most open-minded, all-embracing “golden age”, whether in terms of politics, economy or culture. Yet, as we look back at history, we are amazed to discover that as an East-West hub and a cosmopolitan city, Hong Kong has all the attributes of those golden eras: it is open to all cultures, willing to serve as a platform for exchange, and can merge all kinds of elements seamlessly into an eclectically interesting social tapestry. To help realize our programming concept of universal cultural exchange, we have invited four composers with different backgrounds and commissioned them to compose a piece each.  The result is a riveting soundscape. In Harken Back to Zhou*, Malaysia-born Chew Hee Chiat delineates his imaginings on rites and music of ancient Zhou, with an embedded message on how the transition from Western Zhou to Eastern Zhou may throw light on modern Hong Kong; Reflections on Qin for erhu and orchestra by Cheng Dazhao, National Class One Composer from China, is a modern man’s review of the rise and fall of this short-lived yet powerful regime; Travelling West (on the Han Dynasty) by Lao Luo from Germany follows the Han envoy, Zhang Qian, as he goes west and paves the way for the later Silk Road; and Tang Resonating* by Ng Cheuk-yin from Hong Kong reproduces the zenith of an age of cultural and artistic interface through his New Music style. Taking us on this time travel is Chen Xinyi, National Class One Stage Director, who will wisely point out to us how we can relate and be enlightened by the dynastic glories of those four eras. For the last item on the programme, the Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra and Hong Kong Junior Chinese Orchestra will join the HKCO in a symbolic “passing of the torch”. 

*Commissioned by Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra in 2016 with sponsorship from CASH Music Fund.