Lower Hall
In this talk, pianist/artist Ricker Choi will discuss his solo piano composition, Hong Kong Rhapsody (香港狂想曲), and the tradition of classical piano music as a voice of resistance against authoritarianism. Ricker’s HK Rhapsody is a musical tribute to Hong Kong’s 2019 Anti-Extradition protest, portraying specific scenes from 2019. The Chinese state media, Wen Hui Bao, has proclaimed Ricker’s artwork and music as promoting Hong Kong Independence, stating that he has infringed on Hong Kong’s National Security Law. During this talk, Ricker will present examples of classical piano composers who borrowed melodies from their culture and adapted them into solo piano works expressing nationalism and resistance against authoritarianism. A prominent example is Chopin, who was born in Poland (1810-1849), which was ruled by Russia at that time. Chopin wrote a large number of Polish folk dances for solo piano, including "Mazurka" and "Polonaise," as well as the "Revolutionary Etude," all filled with political meaning and expressing his homesickness as a political exile. Poland was later ruled by the German Nazi Party, and Chopin's music was banned in the country.
