WestK x Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra: Free Reed Sounds

EVENT DESCRIPTION

This February, join the musicians of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and mark the end of the Lunar New Year festivities with an evening of contemporary pieces demonstrating the versatility of the sheng.

One of the oldest musical instruments in China, the sheng – a mouth-blown free-reed gourd instrument with multiple bamboo pipes – has a distinctive, expressive sound. Often used as an accompaniment to Chinese opera performances and festivals, the sheng is rarely played as a solo instrument and there are few compositions created specifically for sheng players.

In this concert, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra sheng ensemble presents a diverse repertoire of solo and ensemble pieces composed by Principal Sheng Chen Yi-Wei and other musicians – showcasing the evocative sounds of this traditional instrument and highlighting the vibrant talents of a new generation of sheng musicians.