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Written by: Zeng Fengting and Cai Zhengbang
2021-05-26 12:26
The last update date: 2021-05-26 12:26
Alone Better Together.
Every weekend, in the corner of Yiu Tung Street in Shek Kip Mei, the sound of the silk and bamboo orchestra is heard.
The music was originally played by a group of elders in the hardware store "Clip Band", and it was actually a "heavy metal" band.
Although the "Hardware Orchestra" is composed of amateur musicians, its performance level is extraordinary, comparable to professional orchestras.
The 70-year-old Ye Dao is the soul of the band and the shopkeeper of Yongtai Ironware Engineering. He has joined the society at the age of 16 and settled in Hong Kong at the age of 22. After years of training, Master Ye has learned many crafts-electrician, three lines, welding Needless to say, he even made signboards for the Queen Elizabeth Building and HSBC Bank Headquarters.
Behind Tie Han, Master Ye used to love music. He played flute and erhu in the store in his spare time. Later, he hit it off with a group of like-minded musicians. Every weekend he played Jam songs in private, making the hardware store an alternative "Band Room." .
Photography: Cai Zhengbang, Zeng Fengting
Fall in love with Erhu at first sight, busy with livelihoods, and chase dreams when you are old
Master Ye revealed that he had been in love with music as a child, but because of his livelihood, he kept his musical dreams in his heart.
"When I first saw it, it was heartbeat, when I saw it again, it was affectionate." These two sentences are very suitable to describe Master Ye's love for the erhu.
When I was young, my family was poor and couldn’t afford expensive musical instruments. My first contact with erhu was when he was in middle school. Master Ye was a member of the literary group at the time. Once he saw his classmates playing erhu, he was immediately fascinated by its timbre. It's love at first sight."
Under the guidance of his classmates, Master Ye opened the door to music and established a basic knowledge of music.
"I think I have a lot of talent. After teaching for a while, I can learn to draw a complete song."
Ye Dao, owner of Yongtai Iron Works
"When I first saw it, it was heartbeat, when I saw it again, it was affectionate." These two sentences are very suitable to describe Master Ye's love for the erhu.
(Photo by Cai Zhengbang)
"I think I have a lot of talent. After teaching for a while, I can learn to draw a complete song."
But the good times are not always good. Master Ye has not yet completed the third grade, but was suspended during the Cultural Revolution. He needs to join the society early to earn a living. His life is compelling, and his music dream can only be buried in his heart.
When he regained his erhu, Master Ye is already in his sixtieth year. Isn’t he afraid of being powerless?
Master Ye replied resolutely: "No, I will always have the heart not to be afraid of delay."
(Photo by Zeng Fengting)
Twenty years ago, relatives suddenly gave him a handful of erhu to rekindle his love for music, but he did not immediately pursue his dream. After his children joined the society and no longer had the burden of livelihood, Master Ye dared to take the first step to realize his dream. .
When he regained his erhu, Master Ye is already in his sixtieth year. Isn’t he afraid of being powerless?
Master Ye replied resolutely: "No, I will always have the heart not to be afraid of delay."
In addition to the Erhu, Master Ye also learned to play the flute during the ensemble with other fellow Chinese in Alia Street.
(Photo by Cai Zhengbang)
Five years of self-study at home
With his enthusiasm, Master Ye successfully taught himself erhu by reading the textbooks at home after get off work with only a handful of erhu, textbooks and teaching CDs.
For the first five years of self-study, Master Ye practiced playing at home alone. "I didn't dare to go out before because I knew I was not good enough."
Until five years ago, he found a group of musicians outside the store in a Chinese music store on Alia Street.
Master Ye "coarsely" asked them if he could join as a member, "whatever you like, you will pass it naturally."
After that, he learned to play the flute in Alia Street. Master Ye revealed that most musicians are old and not enough to play the flute, but the flute can add color to the ensemble, so he started to learn to play the flute. I don’t have enough air to blow, I’ll blow. (Ensemble) There really will be differences."
Master Ye revealed that most "confidants" are old and not enough to play the flute, but the flute can add color to the ensemble. He starts to learn to play the flute after half-pushing and half-pushing. Blow. (Ensemble) There will really be differences."
(Photo by Cai Zhengbang)
The hardware store is full of musical instruments
Spend a happy time in Apliu Street, but in the end, I was complained about blocking the street and being driven away by the food ring. A group of acquaintances scattered their things at one time. Some moved to the Shek Kip Mei community hall and continued to play together. Others Playing in different areas scattered around.
To bring some large musical instruments such as the Yangqin to the community halls, they are even more struggling.
Master Ye couldn't bear it, so he asked his "private sinus" to clip Band.
"The 𠵱 family will continue to do it. The big reason is that I want to keep a sinus and continue to have a place to play (clip band)."
Ye Dao, owner of Yongtai Iron Works
Master Ye’s "private Dou" turned out to be his hardware store on Yiu Tung Street, Shek Kip Mei. He even suggested that his friends store musical instruments in the store temporarily to avoid the pain of moving them.
Every weekend, they would clip Band in the store, and the melodious music would spread from the street to the end of the street.
Master Yip’s "private Dou" turned out to be his hardware store on Yiu Tung Street, Shek Kip Mei.
Every weekend, they would "clip the band" in the store, and the sound of music would spread from the street to the end of the street.
(Photo by Cai Zhengbang)
Every time the hardware store orchestra ensemble, a lot of people are onlookers, and a group of musicians will enthusiastically invite passers-by to sit down and admire it.
Master Ye pointed out that in addition to the neighborhood, there were also young people and foreigners onlookers. "I remember that there was a foreign daughter company who listened to it for a while, and then gave out sodas to us; I also tried to have a son, 3:3. Order take-out to my shop and send me food. Although I don’t know it, it’s a kind of fate.”
Master Ye enjoys the days of public happiness very much, so he has no plans to retire. "My family will continue to do it. The big reason is that I want to keep a sinus and continue to have a place to play (clip band)."
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