In 2011, Johan Famaey composed “Chinese Memories”, a hymn to Sino-European friendship. Indeed, this Belgian musician looks at Chinese music from a Western point of view and gives ancient Eastern texts a surprising Eastern-Western appearance. For his concert in an old baroque church in Antwerp (northern Belgium), LHCH had a front row seat since his team of cameramen was there to film everything!
“Chinese Memories” is a beautiful song cycle in which the grandeur of opera, the intimacy of lied and moving cinematic music are combined with a pinch of Chinese tradition. These songs are taken from poems from the Tang and Song dynasties. This Saturday, September 24, we had the chance to attend an unforgettable musical-literary encounter!
Young Flemish guy in love with China
Already a teenager, Johan Famaey composed and arranged music for the orchestras and choirs he conducted. In 2002, he completed his studies at the Lemmens Institute for organ with Luc Ponet, piano with Veerle Dieltiens, harmony with Carl Van Eindhoven and counterpoint with Hans Vervenne.
But in 2005, Johan Famaey left for Qingdao, China. During his four-year stay, he came into contact with traditional Chinese music. “It pushed me to collaborate with Chinese musicians and composers,” he says again enthusiastically. He then wrote arrangements and music for Yangqin (Chinese dulcimer), Sheng (mouth organ), Pipa (Chinese lute) and Dizi (bamboo flute).
China in Belgium
In the summer of 2009, fascinated by Chinese music, he returned to Belgium to share this passion. In 2011, ‘Chinese Memories’ was composed for and performed by the Sangam Ensemble. The lyrics are poems by poets of the Tang and Song dynasty and are among the most important representatives of poetry in ancient China. In 2019 Johan won the Verdi Keurmerk and Cantabile composition competitions. His compositions are published by Metropolis Music Publishers.
In front of the Chinese Embassy!
This weekend of September 24, it is in a superb baroque church, renamed Amuz today that the two opera singers Jolien De Gendt, Annelies Van Hijfte, accompanied by the Chapelle De Lorraine ensemble, replayed the masterpiece. hybrid “Chinese memories”. But what emotion Johan Famaey must have felt playing his creations in front of an audience of Chinese embassy officials and distinguished guests!
The poetry of Su Shi or Li Qingzhao has been set to music with great heart and intelligence. A sometimes surprising version, with baroque, contemporary and Chinese accents! We felt lost with pleasure between Europe and Asia, in a Eurasia torn today by the conflict in Ukraine. In any case, the friendship between Belgium and China remains intact and still promises us great collaborations in the future!
