novelraw Chapter 50: The Flow of Chinese Culture! Victoria Harbour Blooms Alone!
Chapter 50: The Flow of Chinese Culture! Victoria Harbour Blooms Alone!
Other performing groups in Victoria Harbour Park also started their shows ahead of schedule today.
Compared to yesterday, the string instruments were played more passionately, the pop songs were sung more loudly, and some small performance groups from African countries were playing their drums more energetically.
But when they caught a glimpse of the media frenzy in the Chinese folk music section, and then looked at the faces in the VIP section that they usually only saw in financial magazines or on television news, a sense of powerlessness welled up inside them.
How can we even play like this...? All the limelight has been stolen!
Many Hong Kong Island residents who saw yesterday's news, and even some foreign tourists who were attracted, arrived early to reserve good spots.
As the crowd continued to gather, the Hong Kong Island police officers maintaining order faced increasing pressure and had to frequently redeploy manpower.
As the sunset painted the sky golden red and the sky darkened slightly.
A spotlight shone on the stage, marking the start of the performance in a low-key manner.
The onlookers also unconsciously quieted down a bit and turned their attention to the stage.
After the electric band took their positions, a figure walked to the front of the stage.
It was Li Shuo, the handsome young man from yesterday's news.
But today he was dressed in a flowing ancient costume, and beside him stood an A-frame, on which rested a pipa!
Although Director Zhou had already seen Li Shuo's performance during the rehearsal, he still couldn't help but marvel at Li's skill.
"Mr. Li! Your grandson's skill, inherited from your eldest daughter Li Donghua, is truly exceptional! When I came here, she had just gone to the Arts Department, and I haven't been able to see her perform since, not even as the nation's top pipa player and a national-level intangible cultural heritage inheritor. It's a real pity! But today I'm fortunate to see Li Shuo's 'fingertip thunder' performance! It's so satisfying! Hahaha!"
Grandpa Li and Grandma Song were very pleased with Commander Zhou's sincere praise!
Then look at Li Shuo, who is firmly locked in place by the spotlight.
He calmly picked up the pipa and his slender fingers touched the strings.
The next moment, a dense, soaring tremolo melody, like a torrential downpour, exploded out without warning!
The entire audience was horrified!
The melody builds up layer by layer, and the emotions rise continuously. It's not a tune of traditional folk music at all, but it makes people's scalp tingle and their blood rush to their head!
The celebrities exchanged surprised glances, then showed their admiration.
Many female viewers, especially several blonde, blue-eyed foreign girls, stared intently at Li Shuo's fingertips, which danced across the strings like butterflies, leaving only afterimages. Their focus and power made them blush and their hearts race for no apparent reason, and they subconsciously pressed their legs together... This was quite a strange reaction!
If any traveler from 2013 or later were here now, they would surely realize something!
This is clearly the globally popular background music track "Pacific Rim" from the movie "Pacific Rim"!
As Li Shuo played, he scanned the audience below, who were becoming increasingly excited and ignited by the music.
But a wicked thought flashed through his mind... If he ever had the chance to invest in making "Pacific Rim," the scene where the "Crimson Typhoon" Chinese mechs battle monsters in Hong Kong Island, paired with his version of the background music, would be absolutely unbeatable!
When the pipa played the iconic, repetitive, and stirring chorus melody from the original piece, people surged on both sides of the stage.
Thirteen women and three men from "Tian Gong Music Workshop" entered the stage in formation, each holding a different ethnic musical instrument and moving to the powerful rhythm of Li Shuo's music!
Today's look is another complete departure from the norm! Everyone is dressed in the Dunhuang flying apsara style.
The women, adorned with colorful ribbons and necklaces, their makeup exquisite, moved barefoot with light and rhythmic steps.
The three men were also dressed like the strongmen of Dunhuang, and were heroic and upright.
This was hastily produced by Li Shuo through the ATV production team, referencing Brigitte Lin's styling concept in "The Legend of Zu" and adding his own suggestions.
At this moment, although it was a bit rushed, the results are still amazing!
The audience had initially thought that the boy and the electric band could blend Chinese folk music with Western rock styles so well!
Now, with this blend of classical charm and modern stage visuals, the feeling is even more perfect.
Soft exclamations of admiration rippled through the VIP area.
The rousing music played by Li Shuo perfectly complemented the team members' rhythmic gait as they marched to the beat.
Thirteen female musicians moved gracefully forward, barefoot with bells jingling around their ankles. Compared to yesterday's red-soled high heels, this was a different kind of visual impact—pure, ethereal music, yet with a touch of mysterious allure.
After a passionate strumming, Li Shuo changed the rhythm, swiftly striking the pipa's soundboard with his palm, producing a crisp "dong, dong" sound, precisely hitting the beat, creating a unique rhythmic transition.
Amidst this unique rhythm, the entire "Tiangong Music Ensemble" made a perfect appearance and positioned themselves.
The opening song, which lasted only two minutes, came to an abrupt end, but the last notes spread out like invisible ripples.
Before the audience could recover from this earth-shattering opening, the three male musicians on stage had already stepped in front of the three prepared Chinese drums.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
The deep, primal power of the drums, like the heartbeat of a giant beast, suddenly resounded!
Li Shuo's pipa playing never paused for a moment. With a change in tone, the melody he played became incredibly solemn and stirring, as if unfolding a vast historical scroll!
The Elephant King's Journey!
The opening theme of the future "National Treasure" will be magnificent and grand!
At this moment, all the audience members around the stage of the Chinese Folk Music Orchestra felt as if they were being overwhelmed by Zhang Guoli... no, I mean, the glorious Han and Tang dynasties!
As Li Shuo led the way with his pipa, the konghou, guzheng, dizi, xiao, bili... all the instruments joined in sequence, creating layers of music that were magnificent and varied.
The magnificent melody surged like a torrent, instantly drawing this green space on the shores of Victoria Harbour into the splendor of the Han Chinese nation, a nation of nations paying tribute and possessing the grandeur of mountains and rivers!
The audience below the stage froze, speechless.
In the VIP area, a lady in a cheongsam nodded slightly, while the elderly gentleman beside her, behind his glasses, looked on with excited admiration.
Li Yisheng closed his eyes, as if listening to the music with all his heart. The "arranged and composed" piece by his grandson Li Shuo made the old man's chest rise and fall slightly.
A sense of pride and joy welled up within me, knowing that I had inherited this legacy!
Song Zhuohua looked at her radiant grandson on the stage, then at her moved husband beside her, her eyes slightly moist.
This explosive opening is like an invisible declaration of the kingship of Chinese folk music!
The music in other performance areas seemed weak and scattered in comparison to this overwhelming and magnificent sound. Many bands even stopped playing altogether, and the musicians looked at the dazzling stage and the dark crowd with helpless expressions on their faces.
"No need to play, it's not on the same level at all..."
After warming up the audience, Li Shuo took the microphone, briefly thanked them for their support, and didn't say anything more.
Immediately afterwards, a series of newly arranged melodies, both familiar and unfamiliar, resounded in the already heated atmosphere.
It features the exhilarating theme song from the popular Japanese anime "Slam Dunk," with notes that express an unyielding youth!
There is the popular theme song "Bai Suzhen Under Qingcheng Mountain" from the TV series "The Legend of the White Snake", which swept across mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The tender love story between immortals and mortals is depicted in a more ethereal and beautiful way by folk music!
There are also pieces like "Neoclassicism," which has an ingenious structure comparable to Western classical music, showcasing the infinite technical possibilities of folk music.
Of course, the classic folk music pieces, with their new arrangements, have also radiated an unprecedented charm.
The music surged like a tide, and the atmosphere was electric. The performance continued non-stop until the night sky over Victoria Harbour was completely shrouded in darkness, and starlight and the city's neon lights lit up together.
After the enthusiastic atmosphere subsided, Li Shuo briefly left before reappearing.
He had changed out of his ancient costume and was now wearing a simple white T-shirt and jeans, giving him a refreshing and youthful look.
He walked up to the standing microphone, holding only a bamboo flute in his hand.
His gaze swept across the audience, and he saw the slightly resentful expectation in his grandfather Li Yisheng's eyes.
Li Shuo instantly understood, and felt embarrassed...
Grandpa, it's not that I don't want to show off the "things" that your family has passed down!
If we were to actually bring it out on this occasion, the lively scene would quickly turn into a mere banquet, completely ruining the atmosphere.
Let's take it slow, take it slow... there will be plenty of opportunities in the future.
"Thank you all so much today! Thank you to everyone who stopped and cheered for Chinese folk music and for 'Tian Gong Music Ensemble'! Your enthusiasm proves one thing!"
Li Shuo's eyes swept across the entire room with great intensity, and then he uttered the slogan that would sweep across the Chinese-speaking world in the future, word by word!
"Chinese pop culture is the coolest!"
His smile was confident.
At the same time, a wave of applause and cheers rose from the audience, almost overturning the night sky over Victoria Harbour Park.
He raised his hand and gently suppressed the boiling water, his tone becoming softer.
"So, to conclude tonight, I'd like to dedicate one of my favorite pieces to everyone. I hope the images it evokes will remain in your memories."
He raised his bamboo flute, and behind him, the entire "Tiangong Music Hall" and the band went into preparation, and the lights became quiet.
I heard the broadcast director's "OK" notification coming through my headphones.
Li Shuo smiled brightly at everyone in the audience and said this.
"My last piece tonight is called ~!"