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Press Release
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The Monkey King Goes on Summer Holiday - Tales from Journey to the West
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Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra & Purple Lee bring you to an exciting journey of fun & fantasies through Chinese music
Concert Introduction
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The Monkey King is now an international star!
The adorable 'super monkey' started his adventures in China, but after so many centuries, he has gone international and entered the lives of children everywhere in his many guises, talking in the language they understand, and causing mischief on TV, in the theatre, and even on the cinema screen! Now you can hear his stories told through Chinese music.
The composer, Chen Ning-chi, has won the heart of many young people with his wonderful, colourful music in previous International Arts Carnival concerts. On this occasion, he has picked three episodes from The Journey to the West for his musical animation. You can almost 'see' the Monkey wreaking havoc in heaven, teasing Princess Iron Fan and beating the Bony Ghost. There will also be a storyteller to guide you along. Mr. Chen himself will be conducting the HKCO in this wonderful music adventure.
But that is not all. In the concert, you will also be an armchair traveler of the scenic and exotic places of China. Do you know where Xinjiang is? And do you know what their instruments look like? Shao Lin, the hottest huqin artist from Shanghai, will show you the instrument called 'Ajik' in Dastan Intermezzo No. 1, and Mr. Chen will be using the 'shawn' in his new arrangement called A Medley of Xinjiang Music. To wind up your armchair trip to China , there will be A Medley of Chinese Classic Tunes that takes you to, in addition to Xinjiang, the scenic regions of Jiangsu, Yunnan and Anhui. Ready? Let's go!
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Highlights of the Programme
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Tales from Journey to the West
Tales from Journey to the West is made up of four shorter pieces composed by Chen Ning-chi. The sequence is actually in reverse, with the earliest work, The Monkey King Thrice beats the Bony Ghost, which was performed at the 2000 International Arts Carnival by the HKCO, being placed in the last. The penultimate piece, The Monkey King Thrice Teases Princess Iron Fan, was performed in Singapore by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra in 2003. The opening Prelude and the following section, The Monkey King Wreaks Havoc in Heaven, are the latest compositions by Chen and premiered in this concert series.
The composer has created distinctly different characters with different motifs, each depicted with one type of musical instrument: the Monkey King is portrayed by the sonorous suona; Zhu Bajie the Pig, by the plucked string instruments such as the sanxian; the Bony Ghost, by the woodwind that plays out sinister notes; and Princess Iron Fan, Monk Tripitaka etc. each with her/his instrument and music style. These characters, as represented by their music, are in constant action and dialogue, thus forming colourful and dramatic scenes that enliven the listener's imagination.
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Know your Chinese
music
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Ajik - the instrument for the horseback rider
The Ajik is an ancient instrument with four strings used by the Uighurs of Xinjiang. Its bow is made of horsehair, and the globular sound box is made of wood. It has more than ten sound holes, and when played, produces brilliant sounds that can touch the heart of the listener. There is a support and a crescent-shaped base under the sound box that makes the instrument sit firmly on the player's left knee as he plays, or swivel and turn as the position requires. Since it is so handy, it is the favourite instrument for riders on horseback and for soldiers going to war.
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Discount Schemes
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| 50% | | Full-time students, senior citizens, people with disabilities and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients |
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| 10% | | Each purchase of 3-4 different performing arts programmes/films of the International Arts Carnival |
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| 15% | | Each purchase of 5 or more different performing arts programmes/films of the International Arts Carnival |
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| 10% | | Friends of LCSD performing venues (maximum 2 tickets per performance) |
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| 25% | | Friends of HKCO |
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| Patrons can enjoy only one of the above discount schemes for purchase of each full-price ticket. |
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| Programme |
Ensemble A Medley of Chinese Classic Tunes Arr. by Chen Ning-chi (Arrangement commissioned by HKCO/ Premiere of Ensemble version)
(Including Jasmine, You Send Me a Rose, The Flower Drums of Fang Yang, The Ripping Brook and My Motherland)
Ajik and Orchestra Dastan Intermezzo No. 1 Gu Guanren
Ajik: Shao Lin
Erhu and Orchestra Scenes of Tianshan Wang Jianmin
Erhu: Shao Lin
Ensemble Medley of Folksongs from China's West Arr. by Gu Guanren
(Including Dance Music of the Wagon-Driver, Somewhere Far Away, Lift up Your Veil and Dance of Youth.)
Narration and Ensemble Story told through music - Tales from Journey to the West Chen Ning-chi
Prelude - The Birth of the Monkey King (Commissioned by HKCO/ World Premiere)
The Monkey King Wreaks Havoc in Heaven (Commissioned by HKCO/ World Premiere)
The Monkey King Thrice Beats the Bony Ghost
The Monkey King Thrice Teases Princess Iron Fan
Narration: Purple Lee
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Patron will receive a complimentary gift pack from Yamazaki
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| Date:
15-16.7.2005
Time: 8:00 pm
Date:
17.7.2005
Time: 3:00 pm
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Venue:
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall |
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15-17.7.2005
$150, 130, 110, 90
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Chen Ning-chi
Conductor |
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Chen Ning-chi graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in 1964 and had worked with the Central Song and Dance Troupe, the Central Ballet of China and Central Philharmonic Orchestra. He was Resident Conductor of the Kaohsiung City Chinese Orchestra, and was Assistant Music Director, Resident Composer and Head of Research and Development with the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. He was a Guest Conductor of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra in 2002 and 2003.
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As a prolific and versatile composer, Chen has written many types of Western and Chinese music. They include a musical Tales of the Walled City, the Cantonese operatic and dance music The Fairy of the Ninth Heaven, another musical The Legend of Love, and the drama production Pygmalion. His original epic opera, The Legend of Yao Ji, was highly acclaimed when it was premiered in the Legends of China Festival 2003.
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Chen has also composed extensively for children and youth, such as the musical with recitation, The Monkey King Thrice Beats the Bony Ghost, a story narrated through music The Teacher Is Off Sick, and the mini-musical, Come and Eat!.
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Shao Lin
Erhu / Ajik |
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Shao Lin is a young erhu artist who started learning the instrument at the age of six, and was already giving solo performances on stage at the age of nine. She went on to study in the secondary section and finally the Conservatory proper, where her teachers included Lu Jianye, Lin Xinming and Wu Zhimin. After graduating with Distinction in 1995, she joined the Shanghai National Music Orchestra.
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An artist with insight, Shao performs with moving passion, depth and skills of a virtuoso. Shao was a winner of the Outstanding Award at the Taiwan Folk Instrumental Concerto Competition and an award for Outstanding Performance at the Spring of Shanghai International Music Festival.
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Shao also plays the aizhek, a bow-stringed instrument of the Uighurs of Xinjiang. She has given solo performances at major concerts and on performing tours.
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Purple Lee
Narration |
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Purple Lee graduated from the University of Hong Kong, majoring in Japanese Studies. Winner of six consecutive HKTVB Children's Song Gold Award, she is dubbed the new 'diva of children's songs'. She gave her first solo recital of children's songs in December 2002, and received tremendous popular acclaim. She gave a packed house charity concert as part of the Families of SMA Charitable Trust at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in August 2004. Apart from children's songs, she also appeared in other music productions and shows.
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Lee is a versatile entertainment personality, working at the same time on radio and television programmes on Metro Broadcasts, HK TVB and New World Bus. She also writes for various magazines and newspapers in Hong Kong. In 2004, she published her first textbook on music, Looking at the World through Music ¡V Asia, which was one of the recommended books at the 2004 Book Fair. As a record producer, Lee has worked on the release of four records to date, including collaborating with the famous TV personality Nancy Sit and for her own album of children's songs.
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