This is the last part of my series of articles on the musical qualities of the London Underground. Attentive readers might be puzzled by the publication of this article, given that I have explored all eleven London tube lines already. However, a number of other lines are also incorporated on the London tube map, and it would be fitting to recognise their unique characteristics as well.
Percy Leung
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Percy Leung:If Every London Tube Line Were a Piece of Classical Music —— Part 4
In the first three parts of my current series of articles on the musical qualities of the London Underground, I have examined eight of its eleven lines, including the likes of the vociferous Jubilee Line, the sluggish Circle Line and the ghostly Northern Line. This week, I will turn my attention to the remaining three tube lines on the network: Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan and Bakerloo.
Percy Leung:If Every London Tube Line Were a Piece of Classical Music —— Part 3
In the first and second part of my current series of articles, I have discussed the quintessence of six London tube lines and likened each of them to a piece of classical music. I am excited to continue this musical exploration of the underground network in the British capital. This week, I will turn my attention to the Northern and District Lines and explore their distinctive features and qualities.
Percy Leung:If Every London Tube Line Were a Piece of Classical Music —— Part 2
On 15 June, I published the first part of my series of articles on the musical qualities of the London tube lines. In a nutshell, the Jubilee Line is a cacophonous monster, the Central Line is nothing short of a depressing nightmare, while the Piccadilly Line has attained the very attributes of a bemusing jester. This week, I will turn my attention to three other lines and liken each of them to a piece of classical music that shares their acoustic characteristics.
Percy Leung:If Every London Tube Line Were a Piece of Classical Music —— Part 1
Since it began operations back in 1863, the London Underground (colloquially known as The Tube) has consistently been one of the busiest metro systems around the world. It has eleven lines and, having travelled on each of them frequently since I moved to London a year ago, I have discovered that every line was just like a piece of classical music, each with its own distinct musical features and characteristics. Some are more delightful than the others. Some are just not my cup of tea. But all of them paint a musical canvas that stretches and bolsters my imagination.
Percy Leung:Rome’s Concert Hall of Noise Pollution(羅馬噪音音樂廳)
However, a fortnight ago, I had the misfortune of attending an orchestral concert in a hall that was even more calamitous and woeful than the aforementioned one in the Austrian capital.
Percy Leung:Southbank Sinfonia
The one orchestral concert that is forever etched in my mind, however, was not delivered by a widely acclaimed orchestra that charged astronomical prices. Instead, it featured a group of young, talented musicians that have just graduated from some of the world’s leading music conservatoires. The ensemble – the London-based Southbank Sinfonia – was little known outside Europe when that concert took place in 2015.
Percy Leung:The Absurd Conducting Audition
I was focusing on completing my doctoral thesis over the past few years and largely put aside one of my greatest passions – conducting a symphony orchestra. I missed the days when I could make music with fellow musicians, collaborate on projects and discover new repertoire together.
Percy Leung:Maestro Colin Touchin(指揮大師杜程)
I was an arrogant, obnoxious highschooler when I was first introduced to Maestro Touchin by Professor Heather Slade Lipkin, on whom I wrote an article some years ago. Both of these influential pedagogues worked together in the United Kingdom for many years and it was truly my privilege to have crossed paths with them in Hong Kong.
Percy Leung:疫下的香港藝術節
基於武漢肺炎疫情關係,只有寥寥可數的音樂會能如期進行。不過,本年度的香港藝術節,節目雖然沒有往年的豐富,但仍會於 2 月 27 日至 3 月 26 日期間,在網上及少數場地現場舉辦。
Percy Leung:蕭邦國際鋼琴比賽
在過去幾星期,我有機會欣賞大部分蕭邦比賽冠軍在參賽時的錄音和錄影片段,陶醉在此著名波蘭作曲家的音樂世界裡。我認為在史上 16 名冠軍裡,最優秀的一位非波蘭鋼琴家拉法爾.布雷查茲(Rafał Blechacz)莫屬。
Percy Leung:歐聯及歐霸盃的主題音樂
清純悅耳的歐聯主題音樂總會為球迷洗滌心靈,令他們在充滿期待下,觀賞世界一流的足球賽事及頂尖球員獻技;歐霸盃的音樂卻像為球迷及球星壯膽,為他們在怪異黑暗地區的戰鬥做好準備。
Percy Leung:緬懷昔日的又一城
今天的又一城已不見本文所提及的所有店舖,四周也是被「裝修」的痕跡,以及與環境格格不入的白色鐵欄。但每次經過九龍塘港鐵站,我總會緬懷當年與同學們「返學等放學」、在又一城無所事事、嘻嘻哈哈的美好日子。
Percy Leung:英國的「武肺白癡」(Covidiots)
其實真的有必要以智商測試來找出白癡嗎?所有仍然不能正視武漢肺炎的嚴重性、不願認真防疫、不肯聽從政府指引的市民,就是西方新名詞「武肺白癡」(Covidiots)的最佳定義。
Percy Leung:英國人與口罩(下)
既然這麼多英國人都不願意佩戴口罩,願意的又不懂正確使用及處理,那倒不如不要再強迫市民去遵從此十分有益卻甚為無效的法律。將口罩隨地處置、拿來當玩具玩耍、交換或胡亂佩戴等愚昧行為,其實充滿無數的衛生風險,亦隨時影響他人的健康及生命安全。
Percy Leung:英國人與口罩(上)
往年 10 月,英國各大城市的大街小巷通常也會遍佈落葉,散播著陣陣大自然的薰香。可是,現在倫敦和牛津的街道上,只有成千上萬綠色、紫色、粉紅色的即棄醫療口罩。
Percy Leung:英國大學的美食佳餚
俗語有云,民以食為天。大學的排名、研究、學術水平及畢業生前途其實也不是太重要。若沒有優秀、充足及美味的膳食,學生們又怎會有精力用心學習呢?
Percy Leung:新常態下的交響樂團
在這種人心惶惶的局勢下,交響樂團們仍然各出其謀,以創新及充滿防疫意識的方法,為普羅大眾帶來別樹一幟的線上音樂會。
Percy Leung:香港賽馬會越洋轉播的馬匹譯名
由於參賽馬匹全是外國的佳駟,香港賽馬會將每一匹馬的英文名字譯成中文,供馬迷參考。大部分的譯名都非常合適貼切,但很多與音樂有關的馬匹名字,卻有著頗為奇怪及不恰當的譯名,古典音樂作曲家的名字及技術詞彙,尤其考驗了香港賽馬會的翻譯員。
Percy Leung:傳奇音樂評論家
而對我啟發最深、徹底改變了我對古典音樂看法的老師,並沒有教導我演奏樂器,而是教導我一個相對模糊的音樂學術分支:音樂評論(Music Criticism)。此英國人是被公認為亞洲最優秀,最具洞察力和最具影響力的音樂評論家之一,名為岳勵華(Sam Olluver,音譯)。