RTHK_1975-1976 — Page 18

non-Western music, with some 20 countries represented over the year.

In conjunction with the Asian Broadcasting Union, a month-long "Festival of Asian and Pacific Folk Music" was broadcast.

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Special series, providing an informative introduction to less-known music, continued to be popular. Among these were "Composer of the Week," "Music from America," and "Opera Night". On the historical side, "Musick's Handmaid" (13 half-hour programmes) giving a history of keyboard music and "Music of the Middle Ages" presented less-familiar works. Modern music was introduced in "Music of Our Time" and "Music of British Composers.

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The section continued its coverage of local music, including Hong Kong performers in "Recital from the Concert Hall" and "From the Keyboard." "Debut" was also introduced, featuring students and others making their first radio appearances.

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The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is now recorded regularly, and broadcast weekly. The "Prizewinners' Concerts" of the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival were recorded in City Hall and rebroadcast.

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International artists coming to record in our studios included Crispian Steele-Perkins (trumpet); Sze Yi-Kwei (bass- baritone); the Deffayet Saxophone Quartet; Beryl Kimber (violin) Ruth Allsebrook (soprano); and pianists Daniel Pollack, France Clidat, Roberto Szidon, Roman Rudnytsky, Nicole Wickihalder, Walter Hautzig, and Marie-Francoise Bucquet. The Helsinki University Chorus, recorded live in concert at the City Hall, was also presented in 4 radio programmes.

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The 1976 Hong Kong Arts Festival was a great challenge to the section, which did publicity for many of the music events. "Arts Festival Portrait", a weekly half-hour programme, featured some of the leading ensembles and soloists; and the opening and closing ceremonies featuring the Halle Orchestra were broadcast live from City Hall.

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The section was particularly fortunate in being able to make music happen as well as broadcasting it. "Sundays at Six", a chamber music series at the Union Church, presented leading local artists and groups in public concerts which were recorded for future broadcast. Two commissioned works - a "Wind Quintet" by Bernard Lewis, and "Thanksgiving to Joe Kwan, the Kitchen God", by Doming Lam - had their radio premieres.

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Publicity became an important part-time occupation of

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