Programme Notes Christmas (2012) was commissioned by the Bel Canto Singers and premiered by eight outstanding vocalists at that time. Christmas being a season of celebration, most Christmas compositions are joyful, yet this piece is completely the opposite. Before setting the words to music, I had written a poem with a theme of love lost during this now commercialised festive season. The protagonist has to work hard during festivals to earn a living, and was unable to spend any time with his lover. One Christmas Eve, he catches his lover cheating on him. This story is simple, true to life, and could happen to anyone. David Quah, Tenor and Chairman of Bel Canto Singers, could not help but ask me after receiving the score, “Aren’t you a newly-wed? How could this happen so soon?”. This is why in the original version, the lyricist was given as “Anonymous”, to avoid misunderstanding. As it is not uncommon for Christmas songs to be arranged in jazzy style, I deliberately added some jazz harmonies to make this sad piece feel more in tune with the season.
Alex Tam (composer, lyricist) Graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in London and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), Alex Tam is an opera singer, choral conductor and composer. He took leading roles in many stage productions worldwide, including over 30 operatic roles. Alex was the Chorus Master of the Guinness World Record-breaking event, ODE TO JOY Concert of Ten Thousand in 2015, and was appointed Artistic Director of the Hong Kong International A Cappella Festival in 2016. He is also active in the pop music field, composing and arranging for numerous artists, and making orchestral arrangements for Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and Hong Kong Sinfonietta. Alex received the ARAM award from the Royal Academy of Music for his significant contribution in the music field. In 2018, he received the Outstanding Musician Award from the Hong Kong Music and Dance Association. Alex Tam is currently the Chorus Director of Opera Hong Kong, choir conductor and voice teacher at the HKAPA, as well as founder of the Aria Academy of Music.
*Programme Notes can be freely reproduced in concert introduction and house programmes. *This piece must be sung in Putonghua. For guidance on Putonghua pronunciation, please refer to this website: https://www.ilc.cuhk.edu.hk/en/chresources/lang_pth_englishspk.aspx