HKBU Symphony Orchestra Annual Gala Concert blends Chinese and Western cultures with art tech

HKBU Symphony Orchestra Annual Gala Concert blends Chinese and Western cultures with art tech

Tuesday, 16 April 2024

HKBU Symphony Orchestra Annual Gala Concert blends Chinese and Western cultures with art tech

Tuesday, 16 April 2024

 

The Hong Kong Baptist University Symphony Orchestra (HKBU Symphony Orchestra) will hold its Annual Gala Concert in April, presenting an extravaganza which blends Chinese and Western cultures with art tech. It will also feature renowned violinist Ms Yao Jue, who will enchant the audience with her rendition of Butterfly Lovers.

This signature event will be held on 19 and 20 April at the Academic Community Hall at HKBU with the theme "East West Encounters".

"The theme of this year's Gala Concert exemplifies the University's commitment to contributing to Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange and promoting the rich heritage of Chinese artistry globally. We achieve this in a unique, innovative manner by leveraging technology elements and a seamless, transdisciplinary collaboration between artists and scientists, allowing Chinese and Western music as well as other forms of art to ignite a novel artistic experience at the concert," said Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU.

At the concert, the HKBU Symphony Orchestra will perform Dance of the Yao People, an important orchestral composition of 20th-century China. Combining elements of Chinese folk music with symphonic arrangements, this piece serves as a prime example of the fusion of traditional Chinese melodies and Western orchestral techniques.

The performance will also showcase the harmonious integration of music, culture and technology by presenting artificial intelligence (AI)-generated virtual dancers, inspired by the movements of the dancers from the Yao ethnic group in Guangxi, the picturesque landscapes of Guangxi, and the authentic singing of the Yao people.

The AI dancers and relevant images were created by a team of HKBU experts led by Professor Johnny M Poon, Founding Dean of School of Creative Arts and Director of the HKBU Motion Caption and Visualisation Laboratory, and Dr Chen Jie, Assistant Professor of the Department of Computer Science at HKBU. The team visited Guangxi, home to the largest Yao population, to document the folk songs, dances, culture and landscapes of the region. By translating the movements of the Yao dancers into motion data, the team created a machine learning model to train the AI dancers to synchronise their movements to the music. Images of the dancers will be projected on LED walls on stage, providing the audience with an immersive artistic experience together with the orchestral performance.

Another highlight of the concert is the performance of Ms Yao Jue, who is known for her iconic renditions of the violin concerto Butterfly Lovers. This composition is an outstanding example of cross-cultural musical collaboration, combining Chinese folk melodies and instrumentation with Western classical music structures and orchestration.  

Professor Johnny M Poon, who is also the Music Director and Conductor of the HKBU Symphony Orchestra and the Collegium Musicum Hong Kong, said, "While incorporating Western symphonic elements, Dance of the Yao People and Butterfly Lovers are rooted in Chinese musical traditions and cultural heritage. We integrate AI dancers and other visual elements in the performance of Dance of the Yao People, achieving a seamless fusion of diverse art components. This convergence allows different cultures and technological advancements to come together to create a unique and multifaceted immersive experience for the audience."

The HKBU Symphony Orchestra will also perform Weber's Turandot OvertureandMarch, Hindemith's Turandot Scherzo, as well as a variation of the HKBU anthem Lion Hill Symphonic Metamorphosis to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Academy of Music (formerly known as the Department of Music) and the 30th anniversary of HKBU achieving university status.

Members of the public who are interested in joining the concert, please visit the following website for the ticketing arrangements: https://forms.gle/w3BVKLQRmHs2Xixu6

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The Hong Kong Baptist University Symphony Orchestra (HKBU Symphony Orchestra) will hold its Annual Gala Concert in April, presenting an extravaganza which blends Chinese and Western cultures with art tech. It will also feature renowned violinist Ms Yao Jue, who will enchant the audience with her rendition of Butterfly Lovers.

This signature event will be held on 19 and 20 April at the Academic Community Hall at HKBU with the theme "East West Encounters".

"The theme of this year's Gala Concert exemplifies the University's commitment to contributing to Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange and promoting the rich heritage of Chinese artistry globally. We achieve this in a unique, innovative manner by leveraging technology elements and a seamless, transdisciplinary collaboration between artists and scientists, allowing Chinese and Western music as well as other forms of art to ignite a novel artistic experience at the concert," said Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU.

At the concert, the HKBU Symphony Orchestra will perform Dance of the Yao People, an important orchestral composition of 20th-century China. Combining elements of Chinese folk music with symphonic arrangements, this piece serves as a prime example of the fusion of traditional Chinese melodies and Western orchestral techniques.

The performance will also showcase the harmonious integration of music, culture and technology by presenting artificial intelligence (AI)-generated virtual dancers, inspired by the movements of the dancers from the Yao ethnic group in Guangxi, the picturesque landscapes of Guangxi, and the authentic singing of the Yao people.

The AI dancers and relevant images were created by a team of HKBU experts led by Professor Johnny M Poon, Founding Dean of School of Creative Arts and Director of the HKBU Motion Caption and Visualisation Laboratory, and Dr Chen Jie, Assistant Professor of the Department of Computer Science at HKBU. The team visited Guangxi, home to the largest Yao population, to document the folk songs, dances, culture and landscapes of the region. By translating the movements of the Yao dancers into motion data, the team created a machine learning model to train the AI dancers to synchronise their movements to the music. Images of the dancers will be projected on LED walls on stage, providing the audience with an immersive artistic experience together with the orchestral performance.

Another highlight of the concert is the performance of Ms Yao Jue, who is known for her iconic renditions of the violin concerto Butterfly Lovers. This composition is an outstanding example of cross-cultural musical collaboration, combining Chinese folk melodies and instrumentation with Western classical music structures and orchestration.

Professor Johnny M Poon, who is also the Music Director and Conductor of the HKBU Symphony Orchestra and the Collegium Musicum Hong Kong, said, "While incorporating Western symphonic elements, Dance of the Yao People and Butterfly Lovers are rooted in Chinese musical traditions and cultural heritage. We integrate AI dancers and other visual elements in the performance of Dance of the Yao People, achieving a seamless fusion of diverse art components. This convergence allows different cultures and technological advancements to come together to create a unique and multifaceted immersive experience for the audience."

The HKBU Symphony Orchestra will also perform Weber's Turandot OvertureandMarch, Hindemith's Turandot Scherzo, as well as a variation of the HKBU anthem Lion Hill Symphonic Metamorphosis to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Academy of Music (formerly known as the Department of Music) and the 30th anniversary of HKBU achieving university status.

Members of the public who are interested in joining the concert, please visit the following website for the ticketing arrangements: https://forms.gle/w3BVKLQRmHs2Xixu6

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