image_pdfimage_print

Author Archives: hksar gov

LCSD to launch “Harmonious Journeys: Classical Music Excursion” lecture series

  The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will launch the “Harmonious Journeys: Classical Music Excursion” lecture series from June to August. Hosted by seasoned music practitioner Jimmy Shiu, the lecture series will introduce different classical music masterpieces and analyse their rhythms, instrumental combinations, lyrics and more in a lively manner, allowing audiences to embark on a journey to explore the world of classical music, thereby appreciating the art and experiencing the joy it brings.
 
  Details of the 10 lectures are as follows:
 
Lecture 1: A Parade of Golden Melodies
————————————————–
Date: June 5 (Wednesday)
Content: Featuring the works of Mozart, Bizet, Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Rachmaninov and more, to analyse the power and beauty of timeless melodies.
 
Lecture 2: The World of Tone Colours
————————————————–
Date: June 12 (Wednesday)
Content: Introducing the maestros of orchestration, such as Rimsky-Korsakov, Ravel and Respighi, to explore their use of instrumental positions and combinations, as well as tonal ranges and mutes.
 
Lecture 3: Rhythm: The Unsung Hero
————————————————–
Date: June 19 (Wednesday)
Content: Using Mozart’s “Symphony No. 40” as an introduction to discuss the rhythms of his works, and learning about various compositions named after rhythms.
 
Lecture 4: In Harmony
————————————————–
Date: June 26 (Wednesday)
Content: To analyse the harmonic systems in Western music, and how they bring different musical resonances and layers, and become the foundation for producing counterpoint works.
 
Lecture 5: A Musical Existence
————————————————–
Date: July 10 (Wednesday)
Content: To introduce classical music masterpieces with themes on different stages of life, such as “Land of Hope and Glory”, “Wedding March” and “Canon in D Major”.
 
Lecture 6: The Storyteller
————————————————–
Date: July 17 (Wednesday)
Content: To analyse famous compositions such as Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons”, Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” and Berlioz’s “Symphonie fantastique”, how to tell stories vividly through music.
 
Lecture 7: Virtuosity Unlimited!!
————————————————–
Date: July 24 (Wednesday)
Content: To analyse the difficulties involved and the interpretative skills required in performing the selected virtuoso works by Mozart, Paganini and Chopin.
 
Lecture 8: A Condensed Music History
————————————————–
Date: July 31 (Wednesday)
Content: To give an overview of the history of Western music, from the medieval period to the modern time, and related terminology.
 
Lecture 9: The Power of Words!
————————————————–
Date: August 7 (Wednesday)
Content: To explore how composers are inspired by lyrics, and create moving pieces by skilfully combining lyrics with music. A professional singer will be invited to give a live demonstration.
 
Lecture 10: The Land, the Music, the Nation
————————————————–
Date: August 14 (Wednesday)
Content: To explore how musical elements such as scales and instruments formulate the musical languages that are rich in local characteristics.
 
  Shiu holds a music degree from the Hong Kong Baptist University, with a major in Composition. He then pursued further studies at the University of Sheffield, the United Kingdom, where he earned a double Master’s degree in Composition and Vocal Performance. He has been invited to give lectures and serve as a master of ceremonies at concerts. Shiu has published several works related to music appreciation, composition of sacred music (original and arrangements).
 
  All lectures will be conducted in Cantonese and will start at 7.30pm at the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Science Museum. Tickets priced at $80 (for each lecture, with free seating) are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1742.html. read more

HKMA establishes Project Ensemble Architecture Community

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) today (May 7) announced the establishment of the Project Ensemble (Note 1) Architecture Community (the Community) to join hands with the industry to shape standards and provide suggestions to support the development of Hong Kong’s tokenisation market.
      
     The Community aims to develop a set of industry standards to support interoperability among wholesale CBDC (wCBDC), tokenised money and tokenised assets. It will make recommendations on specific topics, initially focusing on setting up a mechanism to support seamless interbank settlement of tokenised deposit through wCBDC for tokenised asset transactions. The Community will also assist in the design and implementation of the Project Ensemble Sandbox which is targeted to launch by around mid-2024 to facilitate further research and testing of tokenisation use cases.
      
     The Community comprises a diverse spectrum of industry representatives across multiple domains covering regulators, international organisations, academia, local and multinational banks, key players in the digital asset industry and technology companies. Initially, it consists of the HKMA, the Securities and Futures Commission, the BIS Innovation Hub Hong Kong Centre, the CBDC Expert Group (Note 2), and seven members from the private sector, namely Bank of China (Hong Kong), Hang Seng Bank, HSBC, Standard Chartered Hong Kong, HashKey Group, Ant Digital Technologies and Microsoft Hong Kong.  
      
     The formation of the Community is based on a range of careful considerations, including the members’ expertise in contributing to the development of the tokenisation market in Hong Kong, experience and competency in relevant fields and innovative capability. The HKMA will be working closely with the industry, and review the size and composition of the Community as and when deemed appropriate.

Note 1: HKMA unveils Project Ensemble to support the development of the Hong Kong tokenisation market
Note 2: HKMA signs MoUs with five local universities to foster collaboration on CBDC research read more

Red flag at Anglers’ Beach lowered

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 7) that the Environmental Protection Department has classified the water quality at Anglers’ Beach in Tsuen Wan District as Grade 3, which means the water quality has improved and the beach is suitable for swimming. The red flag has been lowered.

     The red flag was hoisted on the beach earlier on due to the water quality being classified as Grade 4 and unsuitable for swimming. read more