Claude Debussy
Petite Suite, L.65 (1886-1889) piano for four hands
Petite Suite, L. 65, is a suite for piano four hands, composed by Claude Debussy from 1886 to 1889. This piece has pleasant melodies, contrasting distinctly with Debussy’s modernist works with contemporary harmonies.
The first movement’s title, En bateau (Sailing), was inspired by a poem of that name in the collection Fêtes galantes by Debussy’s favorite poet, Paul Verlaine. It is a romantic text which unfolds on a floating boat through moonlit water.
En bateau depicts a sensual ride of the revelers in a boat. They think of their lovers and sail in the twilight on a dark lake. The piece starts with a simple lyrical melody that floats above rising arpeggios to evoke a peaceful night on a quiet river. A softly swaying rhythm perfectly shows the atmosphere of languor and water-borne calmness. With more accents and the risoluto marking (which means resolute) at the midpoint of the piece, the revelers’ determination increases. Yet there are frequent and sudden dynamic changes, representing their mood fluctuation. In the end, the recurring patterns of whole-tone scales describe the dreaming and longing of revelers.
Yu Pui Hang Rachel
Piano Secondo
Yu Pui Hang is currently a first-year undergraduate music student at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, majoring in piano under the tutelage of Dr. Cheng Wai, Vivian. She also studied piano under Miss Ada Hau before entering the university and received piano coaching from Ms. Julie Kuok and Prof. Polina Fedotova. In addition, she is minoring in voice under the tutelage of Ms. Margaret Yim and Miss Melody Tang.
As an enthusiastic pianist, Yu attained the Associate of Trinity College London (ATCL) in 2021. During her years in Good Hope School, she has performed with the School Choir, School Mixed Choir in collaboration with St. Paul's College, and Good Hope Singers as a piano accompanist, in events such as Our Dream 2016, Legal Year Opening Ceremonies, and Christmas Carolling at Hong Kong Jockey Club Clubhouses. She has also been performing as the School Choir’s pianist overseas, including in Rome, Poland, Vienna, and Macau, as a chorister locally in Ponte Orchestra & Singers, and in the 2021 Hong Kong Hymnos Festival.
Yu has participated in various competitions, including the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival’s piano solo and duet categories, in the choir division as a pianist and chorister. She has also been awarded third place in the 10th HK Students Open Music Competition, and Champion of IYACC The 4th International Open Piano Competition.
Lin Cheuk Ying Joyce
Piano Primo
Joyce Lin receives her undergraduate training in music at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. She majors in piano under the tutelage of the internationally renowned pianist, Dr. Mary Wu.
As an innovative and determined musician who has devoted herself to prayer services for more than half a decade, Joyce founded an online worship medley team in her alma mater, Shatin Pui Ying College, during the COVID-19 pandemic. She prepared a mashup out of a selection of worship songs and created an online platform to encourage her fellow schoolmates to pray and gather even when school was suspended. The online worship medley in Christmas 2020, as their fruit of diligence, was very well received. Following the success of the online service, Joyce steered another online worship medley programme in Easter 2021. She has won acclaim for her constant contributions to the worship service and her aspirations to unite Pui Yingers with the power of music.
Joyce’s scope of work is also indicative of her enthusiasm and passion for musical arts. Over the years, Joyce assumed increasing responsibilities in different musical productions – the leading actor in So UK, Cyrano de Bergerac, and Twinkle in the Eye. Adding to stage acting, Joyce also set out to compose music and write scripts for musicals. Since 2022, she has been working closely with her alma mater as a live musician, a composer, a lyricist, a playwright, a student music director, and the leading student director, hoping to cultivate the minds of budding musicians and to gain frontline experience to strengthen her artistic pursuit.
Joyce is currently composing the 45th-anniversary theme song for Shatin Pui Ying College and is curating a celebrative album of musical songs as a singer and a production coordinator. Her recent endeavours also include writing an original musical under the support of ‘Dreaming Through Chung Chi Scheme’ (CUHK) and the ‘Hsin Chong -K.N. Godfrey Yeh Education Fund.’
