Young Composer Fung Lam
The Music of Hong Kong-Born Cellist and Composer Appears Worldwide
Fung Lam may be less than 30 years old, but he is already busy composing, performing cello, and working with the next generation of young musicians in classical music.
Slowly but surely, Fung Lam's music marches forward, a wave of sound that ebbs toward another shore. Touting such inspiration as John Adams, Sigur Rós and György Ligeti, this Hong Kong-born composer might very well be the next generation of minimalist, electronic music.
Youth and Talent: The Early Years Are Still Early
Born in 1979, Fung Lam has yet to hit the 30-year milestone, but his accomplishments to date are impressive. He studied at Southampton University, graduating in 2002 with a Masters in composition. He has studied under Martin Butler, Michael Finnissy and Michael Zev Gordon. In addition to composing, Lam also plays the cello.
His music has already been performed worldwide by orchestras such as the BBC Philharmonic, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. He has also performed as a special guest on BBC Radio 3, Radio New Zealand, and Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) Radio 4.
His interests also extend to the theatre: Lam has written music for the Japanese play Festival for the Fish (2004) in London, the RTHK TV documentary series Weather III (2005), and the Philharmonia Orchestra's virtual orchestra installation at the South Bank Centre in London in 2006.
Recent Work: Cello Band and a Little Lock Music
One of his more recent projects includes collaborating with UK artist Elizabeth Wailing, performing as a cellist in her experimental band. Samples of their work can be found on Wailing's Myspace page.
Lam was also commissioned by the BBC Concert Orchestra to compose a work based on an exhibition of locks at London's Victoria and Albert Museum. The project was part of BBC Radio 3's Discovering Music program. Lam, inspired by the intricate designs of the locks, will incorporate rhythmic codes into the musical piece.
Passing the Torch: Working with Youth
A young musician/composer himself, Fung Lam has nevertheless lost no time in teaching a new generation of music-making. In 2006, he participated in the BBC Concert Orchestra's MusicLab project, working with secondary school students to perform his orchestration of Sigur Rós's Glosoli.
Recommended Listening
One of the benefits of composing in the technology age is that listeners can find the music directly on the composer's website. Three of Fung Lam's compositions are available on his personal website and more can be streamed at his Myspace page.
For something more expansive and mysterious, listen to Inner Light: A Homage to Mark Rothko. Full of sound blocks that resemble Rothko's chunks of color, this is an example of Lam's more minimalist work. For something hauntingly melodic and delicate, listen to Media Music Showreel. This latter piece is scored for piano and orchestra ensemble.
Sources
"Fung Lam Biography." Fung Lam website.
"Music Lab." Feb. 17, 2007. BBC London.
"Fung Lam's Discovering Music Composition Diary." BBC Radio 3
