Local guzheng player Peggy Chan Pui Ian will be holding a recital in the Small Auditorium of Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) on Saturday.
The “Peggy Chan Guzheng Recital” is organised by the Macau Music Art Research Association.
The guzheng is a Chinese plucked zither.
Chan is now studying for her master’s degree at the prestigious Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing (中央音樂學院; CCOM) under the tuition of Su Cheng (蘇暢) Saturday’s concert will see Chan performing a variety of challenging and diverse guzheng pieces, including “Fragrance of Jasmine” and “Ru Shi.” She will also perform five of her own compositions, including the premieres of “Tango：Dance of Strings “ and “Bright Moonlight,”, according to information provided by Chan to The Post on Messenger last month.
Chan also said that she will be accompanied at the recital by local musicians Jin Chuan, Ka Hou Chan, Zhu Wenyao, Ka Ieng Kuok, including accompaniment by the Macau Zheng Ensemble.
‘Demanding schedule’
The Post asked Chan what she had been doing since we interviewed her in August last year. She replied in another message on social media: “In the midst of a bustling season, particularly in November and December, I’m navigating a demanding schedule. Over the course of a month, I was tasked with completing two recitals and participating in two significant concerts at the [Central] Conservatory. Among these performances, a standout moment occurred on November 30 during the ‘Ensemble Music Concert featuring works by Ye Xiaogang (葉小綱) and his students. As one of his students, I had the privilege of premiering my guzheng piece titled ‘Preface of Nanyin,’ drawing inspiration from the traditional southern narrative art form known as ‘nanyin’ (南音) in Putonghua*. This piece, rooted in Macau’s national intangible cultural heritage, weaves together imaginative elements around the captivating ‘nanyin’. Moving forward to December 11, I faced the challenge of holding a recital at the Central Conservatory of Music. The unique difficulty lies in the expert musical background of the audience, prompting me to meticulously prepare and maintain a high level of professionalism. During this concert, I also premiered another original piece titled ‘Mirror Flower Water Moon.’”.
When asked why she had decided to hold this concert, Chan said, “Seven years have passed since my last recital in Macau. During this period, I completed my secondary school education, earned a bachelor’s degree, and [am now] pursuing a master’s degree at the Central Conservatory of Music. I’ve experienced significant growth in both performance and composition. Now, I aim to showcase this journey to the audience in Macau”.
New compositions
Of her new compositions, Chan said: “I’ll be presenting five original compositions, two of which are brand new—specifically, “Tango: Dance of Strings” and “Tomorrow’s Moonlight.” “Tango: Dance of Strings” was crafted in 2023, drawing inspiration from the Argentine tango dance, reflecting my imagination for the guzheng and tango music. The piece integrates rhythmic elements and dance steps extensively, infusing dynamism into the music. “Tomorrow’s Moonlight” is inspired by the lyrics, atmosphere, and melodies of the traditional Cantonese children’s song “月光光” (“Bright Moon”). It expresses my emotions towards my hometown and reminisces about the beauty of childhood”.
Achievements
Apart from her previous concert in Macau, Chan has performed at significant events, such as the 15th -anniversary banquet of the Establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) and the 20th -anniversary celebration of the Establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) at the University of Cambridge, and she has participated in multiple programmes on CCTV’s music channel.
Chan’s awards include the Gold Prize at the Sino-Japanese Youth Art Festival Instrumental Competition, Gold Prize at the Hong Kong International Guzheng Competition, and Gold Prize at the 12th Shanghai World Chinese Youth Art Festival, among others.
To see this talented local musician perform, tickets for “Peggy Chan Guzheng Recital” are limited and priced at 120 patacas, with no assigned seating. For details, enquiries can be made by phoning the Macau Music Art Research Association on 6662 0381 and the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macau (GUNA) Ngai Chon Centre on 2823 1112. The concert expresses special thanks to GUNA, the Macau Cultural Federation, Fantastic Music Co. Ltd., and the Cultural Centre of Macau for venue rental discounts.
The recital starts at 7:45 p.m. on Saturday.
* A narrative singing tradition, known as “naamyan” in Cantonese.
Peggy Chan Pui Ian (right) and professor Su Cheng (蘇暢) pose at Chan’s recital in Beijing on December 11, 2023.
Peggy Chan Pui Ian playing at her recital in Beijing on December 11, 2023.
All photos provided by Peggy Chan Pui Ian
Peggy Chan Pui Ian playing ‘Preface of Nanyin’ in ‘Ensemble Music Concert featuring works by Xiaogang Ye (葉小綱); and his students on November 30, 2023.
The poster for the “Peggy Chan Guzheng Recital” on Saturday.
