words yvonne teh

The HK Wind Philharmonia’s annual concert matches ancient masters with modern masterpieces.

Viewed from our contemporary vantage point, 18th century Europe had so many wars – the War of the Spanish Succession, the Seven Years War, the Russo-Turkish Wars, the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars and more – it’s a wonder some of its military musical ensembles had any time at all to entertain royal courts in a manner that paved the way for the formation of the modern wind orchestra!

However, 18th century Europe was also where the supremely talented Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) lived and produced his string of masterworks, including the Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra, K 314, that has been included in the programme for the HK Wind Philharmonia (HKWP)’s Annual Concert on Sunday, April 6. Jerry Junkin, this 50-member-strong wind orchestra’s music director and the conductor for its upcoming concert, shares that this choice for the programme was made in part because “I wanted to feature our wonderful principal oboist [and the HKWP’s founder cum chairman] Victor Tam on a solo work.” But he also enthusiastically points out, “There is nothing better than Mozart!!”

Which may be so, but nevertheless much of the rest of the programme features more contemporary works. “There is more and more good original music being composed for wind ensembles all the time,” Junkin observes.
“Wind ensembles are largely perceived as being where the action is at the moment in serious concert music.”

After noting that both wind ensemble players and audiences tend to have open minds about newer works, the HKWP’s music director goes on to outline that, “The programme will open with Nitro, a wonderful original work for wind ensemble by the American composer Frank Ticheli.” Nitro only dates back to 2006 and is marked, according to Junkin, by high energy and driving rhythms. That will be followed by 20th century Australian composer Percy Grainger’s Children’s March: Over the Hills and Far Away, an audience favourite Junkin describes as “full of beautiful harmonic twists and turns”.

Next up, and immediately preceding the Mozart oboe concerto, is the Capriccio written in 2003 by the Beijing-based composer Daniel Chen as a tribute to the survivors of the Long March. Lastly, but certainly not least, the HKWP will perform the symphonic poem by Italian composer Ottorino Respighi that has given its name to this concert. Written in 1924 and “full of exotic effects and beautiful colours, with perhaps the most spectacular ending in the repertoire”, The Pines of Rome is both “a real orchestra favourite and a work that lends itself beautifully to the wind
band medium”.

Part of Respighi’s Roman Trilogy which musically represents pine trees in the city during different parts of the day, The Pines of Rome is one of those works whose very name conjures up more than a musical description. “Clearly, [Respighi] had a visual picture in mind as he was composing the work,” suggests Junkin. So perhaps one way to enjoy the piece is close one’s eyes and try to imagine what the composer saw when writing it.

Though, of course, not all works are so visually expressive. “There are certainly no rules about how to attend a concert,” opines the conductor. “The important thing is to share the event with the musicians, the composers and the other audience members.” When he is not conducting, he divulges, “I love attending concerts and, while at times I will close my eyes to focus on the music, I love to watch committed performers make beautiful music. I find it truly inspiring to watch and hear people working so hard to produce something that we cannot experience in any
other setting.”

The Pines of Rome, the HK Wind Philharmonia’s Annual Concert, will take place on Sunday, April 6, at the HK City Hall’s Concert Hall. The performance is set to begin at 3pm. Tickets are $180 to $100 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.