By “world music”, we are talking about not only music of the world but also the music of places or communities that are culturally different from ours. If travelling is about physically experiencing the geography, history and culture of different places, then their music is about allowing us to use our senses to connect with the emotional world of foreign cultures.
“A Cultural Journey through World Music” Lecture Demonstration is once again bringing together several musicians who have their base here in Hong Kong and have conducted detailed research on the traditional music of other places to give guided tours of world music in a series of four talks. From Mongolia to Argentina, from Scotland to the Arab region, the audience shall take on a boundary-crossing journey through introduction of their histories and cultures, demonstration of musical instruments as well as sharing of personal learning experiences.
7 Aug (Wed)
Lecture 1: Mongolian Morin Khuur Music
The morin khuur - “horsehead fiddle”, is the most emblematic instrument of the Mongolians, widely played in both Mongolia and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China, and has been inscribed on the UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008. In this talk, we shall introduce the morin khuur's traditional techniques and repertoire, and its deep association with the its traditional pastoral nomadic way of life, as well as its more contemporary performance styles following years of urbanisation and modernisation.
21 Aug (Wed)
Lecture 2: Argentinian Tango Music
Tango, known for its intensity and the passion it brings about, is an art form born under the most unassuming circumstances in the slums of Argentina. Inseparable from the dance, the traditional music of Tango is largely an embodiment of three distinct rhythms - Tango, Milonga and Vals - all of which has their associated form of dance. For all of its cultural richness and significance, the music was largely unable to break free of such associations. The most notable exception, nevertheless, was arguably the most internationally-loved tango composer Astor Piazzolla who bore forth the Nuevo Tango which elevated the same passion in pure musical form that may stand on its own. In this talk, we shall introduce the tango in its traditional form and its subsequent evolution, with demonstrations featuring the quintessential Tango instrument – bandoneon – along with the piano and double bass.
28 Aug (Wed)
Lecture 3: Scottish Bagpipe Music
Scottish bagpipes are commonly seen in ceremonial events. However, it is rare to see its more musical side. In this talk, we shall discover the history of bagpipes in Scotland, introduce various bagpipe types and musical styles, its structure and its unique techniques. The speaker, piper Chris Lee, will be joined by fiddler Yuko Saito to demonstrate the bagpipe's musicality.
4 Sep (Wed)
Lecture 4: Arabic Music
The Arab world spans from the Mesopotamia through the Arabic Peninsula to the Eastern Mediterranean coast and North Africa, and its musical culture and system can be traced back to the medieval times, and developed variously in different regions through multiethnic, multifaith interactions. In this talk, we will introduce basic concepts in Arabic music, and look in particular at the music of Egypt and Syria in the twentieth century, to understand the historical context that brought about the "Golden Age of Arabic Music", an era of countless classics that combined tradition and innovation.
(Information provided by the speakers)
Conducted in Cantonese.
Each lecture will run for about 1 hour 30 minutes.
The programme does not represent the views of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
The presenter reserves the right to change the programme and subsitute speakers / demonstrators.
Curator: Eugene Leung
Speakers and Demonstrators:
7 Aug (Wed)
Lecture 1: Mongolian Morin Khuur Music
Speaker / Morin Khuur: Khaw Fook Wai
Morin Khuur: Spencer Chao and Leo Wong
Moderator: Eugene Leung
21 Aug (Wed)
Lecture 2: Argentinian Tango Music
Speaker / Double Bass: Justin Siu
Bandoneon: Bobo Chiu
Piano: Stephanie Fung
Moderator: Eugene Leung
28 Aug (Wed)
Lecture 3: Scottish Bagpipe Music
Speaker / Scottish Bagpipes: Chris Lee
Fiddle / Bodhrán: Yuko Saito
Moderator: Eugene Leung
4 Sep (Wed)
Lecture 4: Arabic Music
Speaker / Oud: Eugene Leung
Middle Eastern Percussion: Dickson Cheung
Qanun: Jessie Law
Eugene Leung (Curator / Speaker / Moderator / Oud)
Eugene Leung studied music in Cambridge University and subsequently gained a Master of Music degree in Ethnomusicology at Goldsmiths, University of London. He has been actively performing and promoting Central Asian and Middle Eastern music in Hong Kong. He performs on a number of lutes from the region including the Uzbek and Turkmen dutar, and is studying the Arabic oud with the Palestinian virtuoso Nizar Rohana.
He has been invited to create a number of concerts and exhibitions on music in the region, including the LCSD, the Centre for Heritage and Textile Art (CHAT), the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the City University of Hong Kong. He has performed at the Freespace Jazz Festival, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the Hong Kong City Hall and the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, often with the Nur Collective, a Middle-Eastern/Central Asian music collective which he co-founded.
Khaw Fook Wai (Speaker / Morin Khuur)
Khaw Fook Wai is the chairperson of the International Morin Khuur Association (Hong Kong). He is engaged in education and promotion of the art of the Mongolian horse-head fiddle morin khuur in Hong Kong. He first specialised in the erhu under the tutelage of Xiao Baiyong, and obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Music Performance from the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts (HKAPA). In August 2017, he performed “Under the Lion Rock” with three young morin khuur players from Inner Mongolia: Chi Bulag, Bai Sarina and Suerge in the Bayanbulak grasslands in Baotou City, Inner Mongilia. He studied with Sorgog Erdenebaatar, mastering morin khuur techniques from both Mongolia and Inner Mongolia. He has been invited to perform in mainland as well as abroad such as in Japan, Malaysia and Singapore. In recent years he has also collaborated with pop artists such as Lowell Lo, Hins Cheung and Keung To.
Justin Siu (Speaker / Double Bass)
Justin Siu is a renowned jazz bassist, cellist, conductor for jazz orchestra, bandleader and composer. He began with his classical cello training at the age of nine and swept up many music awards during his youth.
Siu received his Masters in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge but his pursuit for music did not begin until years later when the former silicon-valley geek followed his calling to put down the computer keyboard and picked up the double bass instead to become a full-time jazz bassist. Upon returning to Hong Kong, he actively participated and spearheaded many creative projects and collaborated with many renowned local and foreign jazz artists. His most notable appearances included the Macau Jazz Week (2015), Hong Kong International Jazz Festival (2016/2017), Daegu International Jazz Festival in South Korea (2018) and Freespace Jazz Festival (2020-2023).
On top of his numerous critically-acclaimed musical directorial work, he also founded the Hong Kong Tango Orquesta in 2016, the first professional ensemble performing authentic Argentinian Tango in Hong Kong. The Argentine Consolate General of Hong Kong brought, from their homeland, tango luminaries, namely Nicolas Enrich and Diego Lerendegui all the way to aid the orquesta's inception. Among its regular concerts and appearances at milonga dance sessions, the ensemble has notably brought world-renowned Tango musicians maestro Walter Ríos (bandoneon) and Mariel Dupetit (voice) to Hong Kong in 2017.
Chris Lee (Speaker / Scottish Bagpipes)
Chris Lee is a native of Hong Kong. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music (with Honours) in Traditional Music (Piping) from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, Scotland in 2019. He has been appointed an assessor of all levels for Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board (PDQB) and SQA piping examinations since 2019.
Lee has performed actively in Scotland, Brittany and Canada with various bands including an international piping quartet Brawbeag, the 78th Highlanders Halifax Citadel Pipe Band (Grade 1) and Bagad Cap Caval.
Lee is currently a member of the ceilidh band “Over the Border” and a five-piece Celtic folk ensemble Arbory in Hong Kong. Lee is passionate about promoting Scottish music and contributing to the growth of piping culture in Hong Kong.
(Information provided by the speakers)
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Tickets available from 25 Jun at all URBTIX outlets, self-service ticketing kiosks, on internet, by mobile app and telephone.
Half-price tickets available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and the minder, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (limited tickets for CSSA recipients available on a first come, first served basis).
Package Discount
10% off for each purchase of standard tickets of 2 different lectures,15% off for 3 lectures, and 20% off for all 4 lectures.
Group Booking Discount
10% off for each purchase of 4 - 9 standard tickets, 15% off for 10 - 19 standard tickets, 20% off for 20 or more standard tickets.
Patrons can enjoy only one of the above discount offers.
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07.08.2024 (Wed) 19:30
$80
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