CHINA DAILY | HONG KONG EDITION Friday, November 15, 2019 | 11 Heritage Sing me a story ven before people learned Neil Li finds out about the forgotten art of naamyam singing and to write, stories would be passed down verbally from recent attempts to enhance its appeal among newer audiences. one generation to another. EThese tales were sometimes delivered by a singer, accompanied by one or recording along with a reinterpreted through spoken words and at other two instruments. The melodic for- version that combines elements from times through song, with the latter mulas are simpler than those found electronic music. resulting in the emergence of some in Cantonese opera. “When you use new technology truly unique art forms, such as that Naamyam is always sung in Can- and audio systems to listen to those of naamyam.. tonese as its music is intrinsically old recordings from the seventies, Naamyam is a form of narrative linked to the language. “Any kind of they feel very different. I’m very excit- singing that originated in Guangdong narrative singing is very much relat- ed to be able to use new technology and was commonly heard in restau- ed to its language or dialect,” says to interpret these wonderful (works rants, tea houses and brothels in the Chan. “I always tell my students that of) music for everyone to listen to,” early to mid-20th century. Perfor- there is no national style in Chi- says Woo. mances were typically accompanied nese music, but there are a lot of Through these productions, Woo by string and percussion instruments regional styles. Naamyam is just hopes that more people will be able like a guzheng, yehu or wooden clap- like how certain dishes can only to experience naamyam in its old per. be a Cantonese dish.” and new forms. He believes a Can- According to Chan Hing-yan, com- tonese-speaking audience will easily poser and professor of music at the Finding new audiences understand and appreciate the art University of Hong Kong, naamyam Despite the decline of naamy- form’s uniqueness although it is from was most popular in Hong Kong in am in the 1970s, a small group a different time. Composer-academic Chan the 1940s and 50s. Before the advent of enthusiasts in Hong Kong are Hing-yan advocates ex- of Cantopop, Western pop and televi- making efforts to preserve this art perimenting on naamyam to Top: Gaining currency keep the art form alive. CALVIN sion, it was a major form of entertain- Ethnomu- form. Hong Kong government’s Lei- Both Chan and Woo see connec- NG / CHINA DAILY ment for people in southern China sicologist sure and Cultural Services Depart- tions between naamyam and some of and regularly played on the radio. Bell Yung with and its ment and other cultural organiza- today’s popular music styles, particu- “Back then, naamyam was a part naamyam exponent chord pro- tions host events featuring naamyam larly rap. The premise of both musical will only help “museumize” the art of life. When you (went out onto) the Dou Wun in the 1970s. gression.” singing from time to time. Some of genres is based in storytelling. Naa- form. He commends the local music street, you would see beggars singing Above: scene from Zuni To the them, such as experimental theater myam too can probably draw in the group, The Gong Strikes One, for naamyam. Naamyam would be part Icosahedron production, untrained ear, company Zuni Icosahedron, have crowds if it was presented in a format trying to revive interest in the form of the entertainment during Chinese Blind Musician Dou Wun. naamyam tried to find new ways to present the present-day audiences could relate to. by producing videos of Hong Kong New Year celebrations as well as at might sound traditional performance art form to Chan is all for experimental adap- ghost stories told through naamyam birthday banquets. Fortune tellers very similar cater to present-day audiences. tations of naamyam, believing a strict singing. would even sing people their fortunes Uniquely Cantonese to Cantonese Mathias Woo, co-artistic direc- adherence to the traditional format “Instead of performing in a cheon- in naamyam,” says Chan. A typical naamyam song consists opera as the tor and executive director of Zuni gsam or other traditional clothing, Naamyam was also used to trans- of sentences with just seven charac- latter incorpo- Icosahedron, is drawn to naamyam can you play a Chinese instrument or mit information. For example, Dou ters, which are usually divided into rates a number because of its connection to the Can- sing naamyam dressed in a leather Wun, a famous practitioner of the art four-plus-three arrangements, each of different tonese language. “It represents Hong ensemble? Of course, and I think form from the 1950s to mid-1970s, line ending following a particular musical ele- Kong and its very unique Canton- it (could) be amazing,” Chan says. would listen to the news on the radio cadential formula. A naamyam ments, includ- ese culture. It’s one of the purest and “There are many talented young art- and then sing about it the next day at singer would learn this formula ing naamyam. most traditional forms of art and it’s ists today so if a popular musician tea houses. Other common themes and then fill in the text of his Compared the last of its kind. It is still alive today tries experimenting with naamyam, covered by this musical genre include story accordingly. to Cantonese thanks to video and audio recordings it may be a way to keep it alive.” those of unfulfilled love or the death “The melody (of the song) is opera, howev- like the ones of Dou Wun,” he says. of a lover. basically there already but dif- er, naamyam In October, the company put on a Popular interest in naamyam ferent singers have their own is a minimalis- show featuring original audio record- began to wane in the 1970s as other way of embellishing it,” Chan tic and pared ings of Dou made in 1975 alongside IF YOU GO forms of music became popular and says. Variations on the stan- down musical restored images of his performances. Rotten Big Ass Produced by Zuni Icosahedron television overtook the radio. For a dard melody could be brought form. There are This week they will present a new Dates: Nov 15 to 17, 22 and 23 while, naamyam would figure in about by changing the tempo, no acting, choreog- show titled Rotten Big Ass, named Venue: Studio Theatre, Cantonese movies but eventually it he adds. “The faster the tempo, raphy and elaborate after one of Dou’s compositions. Zuni co-director Mathias Woo Hong Kong Culture Centre, was too hard for the traditional art the fewer the embellishments costumes — just a Directed and designed by Woo, the 10 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui says naamyam represents http://zuniseason.org.hk/en/ form to keep up with the times. and vice versa. It’s similar to jazz solo performance production will feature the original Hong Kong’s unique culture. rotten-big-ass Our pick of city events from Nov 15 to 22 A digital dance IF YOU GO VR Dance Video – Afterim- Gatherings at the galleries Singing Chen’s Afterimage for Tomorrow age for Tomorrow Organized by City Contem- combines virtual reality and dance in this porary Dance Company experimental 18-minute film and dance Date: Until Nov 24, 12 pm – 10 installation. Chen, a filmmaker from pm (until 6 pm on Nov 23) Taiwan, merges these multimedia elements Venue: The Studio, Frees- pace, Art Park, West Kow- to explore the “inexpressible vastness of loon Cultural District, Tsim human emotion in the moments of limbo Sha Tsui before death.” Donning a VR headset, https://www.westkowloon. audience members can interact with their hk/en/whats-on/current- forthcoming/ccdc-in-resi- virtual surroundings. dence-vr-dance-video A collective of some of Hong Kong’s leading art galleries will jointly IF YOU GO Painted illusions IF YOU GO host the 2019 edition of Hong Kong Art Week. Divided into three main The paintings of American artist Al Held events, HKAW will kick off with a night of gallery hopping through Hong Kong Art Week 2019 are on show in Hong Kong for the first time. Al Held – Modern Maverick Organized by Hong Kong Art Organized by White Cube Central, Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun, where many galleries will Gallery Association Though frequently grouped with the abstract Date: Nov 22 - Jan 11, 11 am – 7 hold opening receptions featuring artist appearances, workshops Date: Nov 21 – 30 (at various expressionists, Held was significantly younger pm (Tuesday – Saturday) and live performances. The following days will see galleries in Wong times) than his counterparts and continued to rapidly Venue: White Cube Hong Venue: Various locations Kong, 50 Connaught Road, Chuk Hang and Tin Wan offering light snacks and refreshments to http://www.hk-aga.org/ evolve in style throughout his career. He is Central accompany visitors viewing the artworks. The week will end with a hong-kong-art-week-2019/ mainly known for his op art and hard edge https://whitecube.com/ex- two-day art symposium comprising of discussion panels, presentations paintings, which are inspired by Renaissance hibitions/exhibition/al_held_ and documentary screenings on Hong Kong’s art scene, including the art and reveal a deep understanding of spatial hong_kong_2019 role of art criticism, advice on gallery sustainability, and more. complexity. If you have an exciting event in the pipeline and would like to see it here in What’s the Buzz, do write in to [email protected] Food Green, clean and wholesome By MIKE LAU Kong Hotel’s flagship Cantonese The pan-fried stuffed tofu puff of the dish — reminiscent of meat centive for meat-eaters consider- restaurant, Celestial Court, now with Omnipork and bamboo pith and sweet spices slow-cooked in ing giving vegetarian dining a go.