CW Chu College The Chinese University of Hong Kong eNewsletter

The night featured the screening of a documentary of the same title, produced by Mr LAU Shing-hon on the story of guqin (古琴) master Mr John THOMPSON, a live performance, and post-screening discussion.

As the lights dimmed, THOMPSON's journey began to unfold on screen. The documentary seamlessly transitioned from Thompson's performance set against the picturesque backdrop of Cheung Chau's seashore, to his recounting of his initial encounter with the guqin.

THOMPSON learned to play the piano and violin in his youth. An American, he first obtained a bachelor's degree in musicology and a master's degree in Asian studies. Gradually drawn to musical traditions in the East, he first journeyed to Taiwan in 1974, where he studied under guqin master SUN Yuqin (孫毓芹), and later to Hong Kong in 1976, where he stayed and studied with Dr TONG Kin Woon (唐健垣), forging a lasting relationship with the city. Along the path, his devotion to reviving this ancient art has continued to grow.

For nearly five decades, THOMPSON has dedicated himself to this art, reconstructing qin music based on his interpretation of 15th- and 16th-century tablatures, diligently recording over two hundred pieces, a feat much acclaimed.

Director LAU's first collaboration with THOMPSON dates back to the 70s, when the latter created music for one of his films. Decades went by as the film producer and the qin player took on very different life trajectories. At one point, LAU had intended to record THOMPSON's playing guqin, as simple as that. As he delved deeper into THOMPSON's world and the significance of his endeavours, however, LAU has experienced an epiphany and committed himself to featuring the master — a project that eventually took an entire decade to complete, culminating in the 2019 documentary, with passion that neatly mirrors the protagonist's.

As the documentary concluded, THOMPSON united with his guqin on stage. A live performance that defies description transformed the theatre, as if he was again playing by the sea at Cheung Chau, fingers dancing, with serenity beyond the realm of sound.

The night closed with a spirited exchange between THOMPSON, Director LAU Shing-hon, and the Music Department Chair Prof Frederick LAU. They engaged the audience on topics that explored the transformative power of music, full of insights that epitomised a cultural exchange between the East and West.