A rooster wakes everyone up at dawn, but who waked a rooster up the night before to get him to crow?

The winds did! On the evening of February 6, the New Year Concert 2005 of Hong Kong Youth NeoWinds Orchestra, established by Tom Lee Music Foundation, kicked off the Year of Rooster with riveting and auspicious tunes. Held at the Auditorium of Kwai Tsing Theatre, the excellent performance captured the hearts of many and paved the way for the ever rhythmic, melodic and vibrant year ahead!

The concert put together an array of festive and laudatory pieces from around the world and across different centuries, ranging from cheerful traditional Chinese folksongs to the breath-taking contemporary work. The audience was set to immerse themselves in a captivating world of music!

The NeoWinds players, though young and green, were bursting with musical talents and their performance was impressive. With professional trainings and sophisticated guidance of the music director, these players sparkled and brought to the audience an unforgettably tuneful concert.

Stepping into the stage with enthusiastic applause of the audience, Danilo Delfin, the Music Director and also the conductor, together with the young and gifted players, greeted everyone with the Rise of the Firebird by Steven Reineke. The first awakening sound of the timpani symbolized a robust start, followed by the striking brass playing with an ongoing momentum. It was undoubtedly a delightful and fitting piece to start off the festive evening!

An air of celebration was then followed by a sacred and soul-awakening tune, the first movement of Gloriosa by Ito Yasuhide. Composed on the theme of a Gregorian chant, this Christian Oratio consisted of thirteen variations in the form of chaconne, and was adapted for the spread of Christianity in Japan in the Edo era (16th Century). The looming chimes melody, in juxtaposition of the chorus and ascending brass melody, led the audience to an ancient and tranquil old time.

The audience was then brought to another scene of traditional folklore and dance! The Taiwan Folksong Suite, arranged by Yuen Hing-Yau, showcased five tuneful and characterized Taiwanese folksongs. The percussions kept replicating the beats of the Chinese block, whilst the melody depicted lively various everyday lives of the traditional Taiwanese people and the folk tales. The Darkened Sky, for instance, tells how an old couple argued on the better way to cook a carp! The Carp's Wedding in the Downpour, on the other hand, visualizes respectively the fairy tales of a rainy wedding and an egret who lost its way home. Marvelling at such interesting themes, the audience further delighted in the merry atmosphere brought by the Peace blossom takes the Ferry and the Highland Green featuring mountain folklore. Not to mention the Flower Drums of Feng Yang, a popular music for traditional dance with decorated drums!

After a series of vigorous and spirited musical outburst, the audience got round soaking up a different ambience. The Wind in the Willows by Johan de Meij, describes the story of the same name. The River, the first movement, brought to life the picturesque river and the landscape. The young players accentuated aptly the four-tone motif [A-C-D-C] presented by the brass. In the second movement, Ratty and Mole, the players also did a good job in interpreting the magical, adventurous and spooky theme. The audience was overwhelmed by the excellent performance and indulged fully in the musical paradise!

The orchestra was much honoured to have Martin Choy Kwok-Tin, the Principal Clarinet of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and also the member of the renowned "Les Six" Wind Ensemble, to perform the clarinet solo in the next piece, Black Dog, Rhapsody for Clarinet by Scott McAllister right after the intermission. The work, inspired by hard rock music, boasts the skillful and sophisticated performance. The extreme range and emotions juxtaposed with pyrotechnic melody in 'Hendrix' fashion was well interpreted by Martin, stunning everyone in the auditorium. The closing of the piece comes with a head-banging ostinato pattern that leads to the final fiery cadenza. Nothing but Martin's demonstration of his extraordinary playing, together with the orchestra's lively performance, added much flair and energy to the piece.

The appearance of Masami Takakura, the Japanese guest conductor of the orchestra, ushered the evening into another climax. Warmly welcomed by the audience and the orchestra players, Mr. Takakura led the orchestra to perform three pieces arranged by him. Pomp and Circumstance, Military Marches No.1 by Edward Elgar, one of his most well-known pieces, highlights a triumphant melody which provokes audience's nostalgia. The reminiscent essence of the theme was brought out delicately.

Mr. Takakura went on to conduct Cavalleria Rusticana, Intermezzo Sinfonico by Pietro Mascagni. Being one of the best-loved pages for audience from all over the world, the piece bears a strong religious character and an epic melody. It was, with no exception, performed very well once again by our young players!

The evening set to be concluded by An American in Paris, the quaint and Broadway-style piece composed by George Gershwin. However, a tremendously thunderous round of applause given by the audience was not prepared to put the show to its end! The encore piece, Shrek Dance Party, fusing a series of familiar tunes including YMCA and Staying Alive, was thus performed to the pleasure of the audience. Finally, all the conductors and the Martin stepped onto the centrestage together to bend to the audience, ending this year's NeoWinds New Year Concert in an auspicious and joyful aura!