節目 Programme Rundown

1. Peer Gynt Suite No.1, Op.46 I. Morning Mood

The piece depicts the rising of the sun during act 4, scene 4, of Ibsen’s play, which finds Peer Gynt stranded in the Moroccan desert after his companions took his yacht and abandoned him there while he slept.

2. Red Kapok

The kapok tree, also known as the red cotton flower, is called the “hero flower” because its blossoms are vibrant red yet not gaudy. The kapok tree is robust and upright, its wood tough and resilient, standing tall and proud like a hero reaching for the sky. The kapok tree blooms in March and April each year, the blooming of the red cotton flowers also signifies the end of winter and the arrival of spring.

3. The Carnival of the Animals No.13, The Swan

Saint-Saëns’ The Swan from The Carnival of the Animals is a serene, lyrical meditation on grace and mortality. Flowing lines evoke a swan gliding across still waters, its calm beauty tinged with quiet melancholy, making it one of the composer’s most poignant miniatures.

4. Sheng's Song of the Earth

The composer sought to praise the land through one of the most ancient instruments, hence the title “Sheng’s Song of the Earth”. The earth is the mother of humankind—steadfast and vast, nurturing endless life upon her boundless surface. A mother’s presence is filled with love; thus, this music carries the warmth and affection of that eternal bond.

5. Earth Song

Michael Jackson’s Earth Song, arranged for a small Chinese ensemble, becomes a contemplative dialogue between cultures. Traditional timbres intertwine with modern resonance, creating a soundscape that emphasises humanity’s fragile bond with nature. This reimagining invite listeners to consider ecological responsibility through a uniquely cross-cultural lens.

6. Battling the Typhoon (Guzheng Solo)

One of the best-known pieces in the guzheng repertoire composed by Wang Changyuan in the 1960s while he was living at the Shanghai harbour and observing the workers there. The music portrays harbour workers resisting a typhoon. It paints a scene in stages: the busy harbour, the storm approaching, the workers’ struggle, and finally their victory over the typhoon.

7. Wild Grass

This newly composed trio for Gaohu, Erhu and Piano invites listeners into a contemplative journey, honouring nature while reflecting on humanity’s shifting relationship with the environment. The music gradually expands beyond stillness, moving from reflection into dynamic currents that challenge and transform the listener’s meditation.

8. Ghibli Medley

A set of Ghibli melodies which relate to human and nature, chosen from “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind”, “Princess Mononoke”, “Spirited Away”, “My Neighbour Totoro”, and “Ponyo”.

9. Thunder in a Drought, Autumn Moon on a Placid Lake, Riding out in Spring

A medley on three of the most popular pieces from Cantonese Music. The first piece expresses the joy people feel when, after a long drought, they see dark clouds and hear thunder. The second piece is arranged with improvisational and multi-layered techniques, it symbolizes people boating on a lake, chatting leisurely while enjoying the scenery. The last piece vividly portrays the scene of galloping on horseback through the countryside in spring.

10. Moonlight Over the Spring River (Piano Solo)

Doming Lam’s piano transcription of Moonlight Over the Spring River preserves the flowing lyricism of the traditional melody while adapting it into shimmering textures. The arrangement highlights poetic imagery and cultural fusion, offering a contemplative, modern interpretation.

11. Film Music Medley

An arrangement combining music from “Cast Away”, “Life of Pi”, and “The Sound of Music” creates a journey of survival, wonder, and joy. Evocative themes intertwine to balance solitude, spiritual discovery, and timeless melody, offering a compact yet emotionally rich cinematic soundscape.