I don't remember hearing anything about this at the Beijing Olympics.

A seven-year wait for a Shaolin extravaganza performed in Hong Kong
PUBLISHED : Sunday, 26 July, 2015, 4:39am
UPDATED : Sunday, 26 July, 2015, 4:39am

Oliver Chou oliver.chou@scmp.com



Musicians and actors combine for the premiere.Photo: SCMP Pictures

Shaolin

HK Chinese Orchestra

Cultural Centre Concert Hall

Friday

A seven-year itch came to an end when an acclaimed Hollywood composer's unperformed work for the 2008 Beijing Olympics at last received its world premiere.

Nathan Wang, a prolific composer of film music for Disney and Steven Spielberg productions, wrote Shaolin to accompany 80 monks from the legendary temple in a martial arts show to celebrate the country's first Olympic Games. But the music was heard for the first time only on Friday.

Instead of a kung fu display, the music was set to a moving story about Chinese martial arts in a joint production by the 85-strong Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and members of the Chung Ying Theatre Company in the presence of the composer.

The natural rhythmic pulse of Wang's music was effective in the narrative, especially in the processional passages that were plentiful throughout the eight scenes. Skilfully arranged by several local composers, including concert conductor Chew Hee-chiat, the music often provided a good layer to the storyline.

Some melodic lines, such as in Dance and Martial Arts, may sound too Western and modern to play on traditional Chinese instruments. But the intention to fuse East and West was evident.

The big bang on both large Chinese bass drums plus bells placed at the upper stalls set the scene. But the music took a secondary role when the narrative dominated. It was not until the sixth scene that the orchestra had a moment of its own, featuring soloists playing the suona, dizi, guanzi and pipa as they depicted various martial arts styles.

The war-like rhythm in the pipa passage thrilled the audience, including some restless youngsters.

But nothing was more captivating than the 20 young members of the Refiner Drums performing with breathtaking unison and discipline.

The sheer volume resonated throughout the hall as the audience was awed into silence.

Most impressive of all was the coda when the five actors performed martial arts moves.

The accelerating motion was matched with the crescendo of the music and they all ended together on the same note to great effect, a moment the composer had been anticipating for a long seven years.
A big drop form 80 to 5.