【Interview with personage of Rocks Net – Wong Koon Chung】
"Like the organ of church, the Chek Mok Castle of Chek Chau, the inkstone of study, and the layer cake." Wong Koon Chung creates out a peculiar Hong Kong with swinging melody and lively lyric. A wonderful song can broaden your mind so you may hold half of the world; a splendid scene can touch your heart so you may feel like flying in the universe.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department invited amateur musician Wong Koon Chung to compose a theme song for Hong Kong's geological wonders for the purpose of promoting geological conservation. About one month later, Wong Koon Chung turned to staffs the rocks of millions or even hundreds of millions of years. Volcanic rocks are turned to graceful beats, and hexagonal rock pillars become melodious songs.
The church organ alike Hexagonal rock columns
"At the beginning, I was afraid that I couldn't finish the work because I just visited half of those geological wonders, and I didn't want to deliver an inferior work. Fortunately an officer of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department provided me lots of data about Hong Kong geology, then I had the inspirations for my composition." Thus out pours the lyric: "Like extraterritorial sculptures, the hexagonal rock pillars witness the evolvement and creation of billions of years!"
The lyric adopts many figures of speech, sea arch is turned to arch bridge tending to fall down, and sedimentary rock coast is described as whirling steps. Wong Koon Chung said that the lively descriptions made ordinary people understand Hong Kong' wonders formulated by various geological changes." I tried my best to avoid geological terms so that listeners could understand what I've wrote."
Ninepin Group
The theme song has two stanzas of verse; the first stanza presents various sceneries of Hong Kong's colorful coasts, like Chek Mok Castle in Chek Chau, and the hexagonal rock pillars on Kwo Chau Islands. The second stanza continues singing for the unique geological structure of northeast New Territories, like marine stack and folded rock formations. Then the chorus brings out the message of geological tour and conservation. Wong Koon Chung said: "These wonders are full of academic research value, and they are worthy of being understood, explored and treasured by everyone."
"What is more precious is that they are near our cities." Wong Koon Chung has been to Twelve Apostles of Australia, and still remembers the long drive which took several hours from urban areas. However, it's only one hour's ride to Hong Kong's geological scenery. Neighbouring urban areas is the greatest feature of rock watching in Hong Kong, hence the name Close at Hand for the song.
The last line of the lyric is: "The answer to scientific exploration comes from earth." Wong Koon Chung explained that at the end of the song he wanted to send out the message of science popularization: "To appreciate natural scenery is also a scientific exploration, but this exploration and the happiness it brings are not only for experts and students of academic institutions. All the common people can share the wonders on the earth."
After completion of the music and lyric, the song was sent to a students glee club for singing. "Actually, the melody and lyric of the song are suitable for both adults and children, but I chose the students of primary Form 2 to 4 because they have sweet and pure voices. However, the lyric of this song is a little profounder than common nursery rhymes, so the children may need longer time to practice."
Recording of Hong Kong Geopark theme song by primary students
Wong Koon Chung once took charge of administrative work and also taught Chinese in a primary school, and he composed Christian songs in his spare time, and his works were popular. He took a fancy for hiking when he was young, and while composing Close at Hand, he recalled his childhood: "I had been to Kwo Chau Islands when I was a child, and after finishing this song, I want to go there again." He also hoped that people who listened to this song might have the same impulse as he to see the splendid rocks in Hong Kong.
When he was young, he practiced with the second-hand guitar given to him by elders. Without any tuition from any private teacher or college, but with just some experience in an interest class. Wong Koon Chung composed his first song at 12. He once participated in a nursery rhymes composition contest, and his nature-themed work Come to Appreciate Carefully in 2000 won the prize of Hong Kong Treble Choirs' Association.
Most of his songs are psalms intended to eulogize, just like the nature-themed songs. Mainstream songs of Hong Kong are mostly love songs and are seldom themed on nature. However, Wong Koon Chung thinks that in Hong Kong it is not difficult to find inspiration for composing a nature-themed song. As Hong Kong has many country scenes, it is easy to find theme, the only problem is how people view the treasures around.
"In the suburbs of Hong Kong are many beautiful sceneries which are often ignored, and in the sky are many stars which are blocked by high-rise buildings; there is fascinating sunset every day, but students are too busy with homework or TV to care for sunset." Wong Koon Chung wished Hong Kong musicians to compose more nature-themed songs so as to enhance the natural conservation awareness.
A good natural ballad is much more impressive than a good nature book: "It may take you long to finish a book, and you will not read it again immediately. However, a song just lasts for two or three minutes, so you can listen again and again. A song usually has a deeper effect than a book." You may be not so touched by Close at Hand that you want to embrace those wonderful rocks on the seashore, but once you come close to those lofty mountains and rocks, a hymn will echo in your heart.
