[Up-Close Dialogue] In Dialogue with COVID-19 & Music Creativity

During the time of the coronavirus crisis, the growing sense of alienation and isolation is impacting people’s present-day experience. With our general way of living becoming more restricted, many feel a loss of control in the face of uncertainty. Many turn to music. We are thus witnessing the blossoming of music creativity and are astounded by music’s prominence in people’s lives, such as residents singing to each other from their homes’ balconies, people using parodies to vent their frustrations, and musicians turning to multi-track videos to keep performances going online. While the above are just a few examples of COVID-related creativity, the four participants of this forum would like to use an array of local and non-local examples to ponder on the meanings of music creativity in times of crisis from frameworks reflective of their different backgrounds in cultural studies, ethnomusicology, musicology, and performance. They will unravel how COVID-related activities have not only soothed nervous, but also crossed borders, connected communities, and even empowered the less powerful in ways we may have overlooked.
Participants :
Prof. Frederick Lau (Department of Music, CUHK)
Prof. Li Siu Leung (Department of Cultural Studies, Lingnan University)
Prof. Johnny Poon (Department of Music, HKBU)
Moderator: Prof. Helan Yang (Department of Music, HKBU)
*First half is conducted in English covering non-local examples; the second half is conducted in Cantonese covering local examples.
About the participants
Prof. Frederick Lau, Professor and Department Head, Department of Music, CUHK
Prof. Lau is an ethnomusicologist, flutist, and conductor whose scholarly interests include a broad range of topics in Chinese, Western, and Asian music and cultures. He has published widely on issues related to music and identity, nationalism, modernization, politics, globalization, diaspora, musical hybridity as well as Western avant-garde music.
Prof. Li Siu Leung, Adjunct Professor, Department of Cultural Studies, Lingnan University
Prof. Li has published in the fields of gender in Chinese opera, Hong Kong cinema, and literary studies. Formerly Head of the Department of Cultural Studies, Lingnan University, and immediate past Dean of the School of Chinese Opera at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, he was trained in flute performance in his early years and ventured into a comparative-literature-turned-cultural-studies academic.
Prof. Johnny Poon, Dr. Hung Hin Shiu Endowed Professor in Music, Associate Vice-President (Interdisciplinary Research), Convenor of the Creative Media/Practice Research Cluster, Head, Department of Music, HKBU
Prof. Poon has maintained a highly successful and distinguished professional career as a conductor, appearing regularly in concert halls and festivals across the globe. Since 2018, he has also taken on a leadership role as convenor of the Creative Media/Practice Research Cluster, spearheading the development of one of the strategic research foci at HKBU; and he is also the anchor person of the Faculty Niche Research Area Subgroup in Performance Studies.
Prof. Helan Yang, Professor, Department of Music, HKBU
Prof. Yang’s research is cross-cultural and interdisciplinary, ranging from nineteenth-century American symphonic music to contemporary Chinese music, both “serious” and “popular” in style and appeal. She has published widely on Contemporary Chinese music, music and politics; music censorship; migration and music, transnational and global musical networks, nationalism and identity.
*This program is recorded on 15 May 2020.

[@SeeliaVachon]

I'm here for Dimash! ❤❤❤ He is a phenomenal human being! Dimash is a once in a century kind of special being. He is like this generation's Beethoven, Shakespeare, or Mozart! 🥰

[@evabaumannautorin]

Thank you, Professors, for including Dimash in this presentation! Dimash himself is all about uniting people from all over the world. In his concerts fans sing along in Russian, Mandarin, Kazakh, Ukranian - and most don't even speak those languages! Now, in quarantine times, fans are very active in the fan clubs on social media - there are variety shows, multicultural days, a dance challenge "flashmob" to one of Dimash's songs ... He is truly uniting the world - and the song "We are One" has played a major role in keeping people's spirit up and inspiring to come together virtually, even though we are all thousands of miles apart.

[@ashraff6450]

Dimash truly mean what he sings. He truly promote peace and unity. I think its also good to use his song "war and peace" to convey the purpose of this conference.. After the war with covid, there are still many war that remained. And unity is what we learn from this covid. And hopefully we can taste the sweetness of peaceful world someday

[@roisincherie]

I find your discussions interesting because I can see how COVID-19 is changing society in very basic ways. Everyone is now talking about 'the new normal'. But just what does this new normal mean? Dimash Kudaibergen has always shown an interest in different cultures and uniting those from other nations. His fandom span the globe and it's a very interesting sight to see these fans from all over the world singing songs in Kazakh, Russian, English and Mandarin at his concerts. His efforts may be challenged by the New Normal but it may just shift modes and methods, rather than objectives.

[@dimashdearsdownunder]

Thanks for this very informative presentation! I love that you used Dimash singing We Are One as an example for your presentation. Dimash often skilfully weaves the themes of 'victory over hardship' and 'oneness' into his songs (see also Accross Endless Dimensions & Qairan Elim) and has also adeptly used the visual aspects of the internet for performances at his home studio during covid lockdown (see SAMALTAU for the Tokyo Jazz Festival). He is a unique performer who is bringing something new to this world during covid times and will continue to shine post-covid. Dimash is worth checking out! ♥️

[@helgaogmundardottir1193]

You say it all, and in a way that one cannot surpass or improve!

[@Кунанбай-е5ь]

Aaaah, Dimash 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@pichac.7327]

Thank you for your analysis and professional point of view. 🤗🤗 Waiting for more, especially about Dimash. 🥰🥰

[@dimashinternational]

Great topic in these times!