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Recordin' a record

January 30, 1969: The Beatles perform together for the last time on the roof of their London headquarters. June 8, 1977: The Sex Pistols blast God Save the Queen! from a barge on the River Thames during Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee ceremony. December 27, 2004: Hong Kong plays host to another musically historic moment as 7,000 students, with a little help from the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, break the world record for 'most children gathered at once to play the recorder'.

Yes, the recorder - a medieval wooden instrument now best known as a small plastic tube handed out to countless children so they can play Frere Jacques or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, eliciting praise from parents, usually followed by suggestions that some fresh air before supper would be good for all concerned.

At the end of this month, the Philharmonic and conductor Edo de Waart will try to combine it all: a world-class orchestra, sponsorship from Hang Seng Bank, a handful of festive Christmas hits (including Jingle Bells, Joy to the World and We Wish You a Merry Christmas) and 7,000 children aged 10 to 12, each armed with a plastic instrument and a dream.

But can such an unwieldy and potentially discordant symphony work in practice? This record-breaking idea is part of a continuing series of events designed to foster appreciation of the arts among Hong Kong schoolchildren. In addition to the usual permission slip signed by parents of underage record breakers, each of the children will contribute $20 towards a children's music fund.

On the afternoon of November 27, with one month to go before the big show, the Tai Kok Tsui Catholic Primary School auditorium floor is covered, wall to wall, with children sitting cross-legged with sheet music laid on their knees. It is a big rehearsal room, but the group assembled represents only about 10 per cent of the total number who will be meeting for the first time to try to break the record. Finding a place for 7,000 students to rehearse is nearly impossible, and the only chance the whole group will get to practise together will come on the day of the event at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Philharmonic head of marketing Joseph Wong stands in the back of the gym listening to almost 1,000 pre-adolescents practising scales. His sharp grey pinstripe suit out of place among the more casual clothes of primary school teachers gathered. Wong is understandably pensive. Here is a man charged with marketing the orchestra as a world-class musical body. Might this event turn into an embarrassing cacophony?

But by the midpoint of the 90-minute practice session, Wong is leaning casually against the back wall and looks decidedly more relaxed - and impressed. He has to admit the kids are all right. 'Despite their numbers, they're all managing to stay on tempo and maintain a good musical quality,' he says. 'We're very enthusiastic about courting young listeners and encouraging musical appreciation among the young. If you come to an Philharmonic concert, you'll notice that our audience tends to be, by and large, younger than those in Europe. We feel strongly that this is the result of our close work with primary and secondary schools.'

Much of the credit for bringing the group together goes to children's entertainer Harry Wong. An accomplished musician, Wong is holding his third practice session of the day, and the boyish-looking children's show host looks tired but happy. The children's performance and overall good behaviour have gone a long way towards dispelling any trepidation that the event might devolve into symphonic chaos.

'All of the teachers have done a fantastic job with the individual groups, and we couldn't do this without them,' says Wong. 'The children play remarkably well. I didn't feel as if I was conducting or controlling the kids as much just playing alongside them.'

During a break in the practice session, some of the children seem eager to set the record straight for the media before being swept up by the inevitable whirlwind of international fame. Ivy Lee, a second-year student at Semple Memorial Secondary School, says she is 'very excited to be taking part in this record-setting concert', her cool demeanour indicating she is not fazed by the task ahead,

Ten-year-old Rana Asaf Feroz of Yaumati Kaifong Association Secondary School is evidence the event will foster musical creativity among children. 'I have played recorder since I was seven, and now I want to learn to play the flute, the drums, the guitar, the piano, and also the um ...' Feroz moves his hands horizontally before his mouth until his teacher suggests harmonica. 'Yes, I will learn to play one of those, too,' he says.

After a second 45-minute practice session, this group seems as ready as it is going to be. After a brief final pep talk by Harry Wong, the children rush downstairs into their school buses.

'Three down, four to go,' says Wong, referring to the number of groups still requiring practice sessions before the big day. 'But it's worth the work. This concert symbolises the spirit of Hong Kong. Individually, we all work well. When we come together, though, we can work wonders.'

But can the group of 7,000 maintain harmony as they bid to make history? 'Definitely,' says Wong. 'I'm really looking forward to playing alongside all those kids.'

The Hang Seng M.I. Kid World Record Orkidstra, December 27, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, can be heard live on Radio Metro Show Biz (FM 99.7) from 5-7pm.

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