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Written by: Lu Nuojun
2021-03-20 09:00
Last update date: 2021-03-20 09:00
"Students, the direction of the sound is right in the middle." Every time before the music is played, Zheng Zhenxian, the instructor of the Xinguang Choir, will stand in the center under the stage and use a loud voice to guide the students.
Standing on the stage was a group of classmates and alumni from the Xinguang Blind School and School. Their eyes were kept closed from beginning to end. After listening to Teacher Zheng's voice instructions, they slowly adjusted their body direction toward the middle; music The prelude sounded, seeing the masks of the crowd trembling slightly, and slowly the whole auditorium was filled with the sound of hymns.
In the past year or so, the epidemic has been repeated, and many art performances have been cancelled. The Xinguang Chorus was originally scheduled to perform a hymn concert at the Cultural Center last year.
Earlier, the organizer decided to restart the concert online, and a class of students will eventually have the opportunity to pass the beautiful singing into the ears of the audience through the screen.
Photography: Ou Jiale
"Classmates, the sound direction is right in the middle." After hearing the teacher's voice instructions, the students of the Xinguang Chorus slowly adjusted their body direction toward the middle.
(Photo by Ou Jiale)
Under the new crown pneumonia epidemic, stages all over the world will be dormant for a short time, but the performers will not relax because of this.
On this day, more than 10 participants of the Xinguang Choir returned to the campus at Pokfulam Road to make the final rehearsal for the online performance to be held next month.
After the students put on neat school uniforms and the alumni put on pure white clothes, they began to arrange their positions on the stage. Everyone put on the same style of masks, and at the same time opened their arms and separated 1.5 meters to maintain social distance.
There is no relaxation in the practice under the mask
Multiple lenses and spotlights have been placed in the auditorium to take pictures of the rehearsal from different angles. Even though the audience is separated from the screen, they can barely see the closed eyes of the students, but in fact they are under the masks, the choir’s practice There is no slack at all.
Since the scheduled performance last year, their preparations have been going on for more than a year. Even during the suspension period, everyone still practiced the song by video meeting.
"The practice mode in the middle has changed. There are huge restrictions on using Zoom to practice. It is difficult to hear one classmate hear another one, but in fact, the long time is more tormented." Teacher Zheng described that the choir is Go to the present under different restrictions.
Jia Qi (right), who is born blind and is currently in Secondary Three, and Zheng Zhenxian, the instructor of the Xinguang Chorus.
(Photo by Ou Jiale)
A group of members are ready to take the stage:
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Jia Qi, who is born blind and is currently in Form Three, has joined the Xinguang Chorus since childhood.
She said that every time she "sings a song, she will feel comfortable." Therefore, she has been interested in music since she was young.
Jia Qi believes that in a choir, you can get in touch with different choral works, and the divisional chorus is more challenging.
She admitted that practice was blocked during the epidemic. "There will be network problems with Zoom. You can hear the prelude when you sing in the second chorus, but you can't hear the music after you sing." Although she is a little disappointed at the delay in performing, she is a bit disappointed. I don’t mind, and I am very much looking forward to the form of online concerts available. "I really want to know what will be the way to go out on the street and watch online...Households and enterprises in the mainland will think about the method. Edit and compress the clips and send them."
Rehearsal of Xinguang Chorus:
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Teacher unforgettable contact with Braille sheet music
The eyes of the visually impaired may only be dark, but singing can often bring hope to them.
Teacher Zheng Zhenxian, who joined the Xinguang Blind School and School for the fourth year, said that even though the physical practice of the choir had to be suspended many times under the epidemic, every time after the resumption, the students came prepared and did not Take the opportunity to "slacken".
She also pointed out that teaching music in mainstream middle schools in the past is very different from the current teaching, such as being exposed to Braille sheet music. "I can't learn from the language, but I can only understand the language (braille sheet music). It's possible in Hong Kong. There is only first-hand knowledge, and there has not been a systematic course for many years." Teacher Zheng also pointed out that for younger students, it is necessary to describe things more vividly, or let them learn music through body rhythms. know how.
The audience can barely see the closed eyes of the students across the screen, but in fact, under the mask, the efforts made by the members of the Xinguang Chorus over the past year cannot be ignored.
(Photo by Ou Jiale)
"When turning a staff into a braille score, you need to know that the lines represent a bleat sound. For example, because there are different values, there will be different points, just like the staff have different notes and different shapes."
Alumnus Shumei, a member of the choir
Visually impaired people can know which note they want to play by looking at the staff and seeing the notes on a certain line. In addition to relying on reciting, the visually impaired people can use braille music.
Alumnus Shumei, who is also a member of the choir, currently works in the braille production department of the school and also helps to make braille sheet music on weekdays.
She has learned the piano for nearly 30 years and said that she has learned Braille sheet music since she was a child, so she won't find it difficult, but translating sheet music has to be more coordinated with other people. , For example, because there are different points, it will be composed of different points, just like the staff have different shapes and different notes."
The Hong Kong Arts Festival and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust jointly launched the "Infinite Brightness" project in 2019, dedicated to creating a barrier-free and unlimited environment, and exploring and promoting social inclusiveness through art.
A group of art performers with different abilities from all over the world and local, including people with Down syndrome, autism, disability, deafness, and blindness, hope to promote artistic integration through performances and bring unique performances to the audience.
In response to the epidemic, the ten programs of "Infinite Bright" this year will be presented mainly through online platforms, including a documentary about the creation of braille sheet music by the blind in the United States; there are also performances performed by the Xinguang Chorus and famous local musicians. The hymn concert "This Stop Is Too Short", through music, sings to mankind's perseverance and courage when facing adversity.
In response to the epidemic, the ten programs of "Infinite Brightness" this year will be presented mainly through online platforms.
(Photo by Ou Jiale)
"This station is too short" online program details:
Start registration date: February 9, 2021 (Tuesday) at 10:00 am
First broadcast date: April 16, 2021 (Monday) at 8:00 pm The
program length is about 1 hour and 15 minutes , Performed in Cantonese and English, with oral videos in Chinese and English https://www.nolimits.hk/zh-hant/a-journey-too-short/
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