Merit system with strings attached
As huqin principal of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, Zhang Chongxue wants to bring the bowed instrumentsto the world, writesOliver Chou
S anshi erli, or standing firm at 30, is an old Chinese saying for those reaching the 30-year mark. For Zhang Chongxue, this is literally true.
As the recently appointed huqin principal of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, Zhang - who turns 30 in November - will stand and tune the 85-member ensemble like the concertmaster of a western orchestra when the new concert season opens on September 13.
"I had never dreamed of assuming the position when I joined the orchestra seven years ago. Even the appointment in 2006 was a surprise," says the Shanghai native.
"I always thought my seven years of service would get me a Hong Kong identity card. But I have ended up getting something much bigger than permanent residency," she says, laughing.
Huqin is the generic term for Chinese two-stringed bowed instruments. As huqin principal, Zhang will be in charge of the orchestra's three huqin sections: gaohu, erhu, and zhonghu, comprising 28 players.
"These are Chinese fiddles of different pitches, the gaohu having the highest pitch, while the zhonghu is viola-equivalent," says Zhang, who won the second prize in the erhu category at the 2008 Shanghai Spring International Music Festival. "I will be leading musicians from all three groups in bowing, timbre, and address requests guest conductors might have for the strings."