Members of the Hong Kong Gaudeamus Dunhuang Ensemble perform during the opening of the "Hong Kong Palace Performing Showtime Carnival" in Hong Kong, south China, Nov. 26, 2023. Photo: Xinhua

At the recent opening of the "Hong Kong Palace Performing Showtime Carnival," young musicians played ancient instruments while giant murals from the Mogao Grottoes flickered on the big screen.

The performance was a testament to the enduring power of art and culture to bridge time and space, connecting the present with the past and creating a sense of wonder and awe.

Driven by a profound commitment to reviving and preserving Dunhuang's rich cultural legacy, the Hong Kong Gaudeamus Dunhuang Ensemble is infusing renewed vitality into the ancient melodies enshrined within the murals.

Leonie Ki, the ensemble's honorary director and founder, fell in love with Dunhuang, in Northwest China's Gansu Province, during her first visit in 2010. In May 2018, the Hong Kong Gaudeamus Dunhuang Ensemble was established. Merely four months later, they took the stage as representatives of Hong Kong at the esteemed 3rd Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, delivering a mesmerizing performance at the illustrious Dunhuang Grand Theater.

Following the prevalent depictions found in the murals, the orchestra took shape with eight musicians and two composers. They meticulously selected wind and percussion instruments commonly featured in the artwork, including the evocative curved-neck lute and the resonant mouth organ, among other meticulously replicated ancient instruments.

As the ensemble gathered, a profound question lingered: What melodies should resonate through the air? How does Dunhuang music truly manifest itself when it has remained unheard by contemporary ears? Kam Shing-hei, the artistic coordinator and composer-in-residence of the ensemble, undertook his inaugural artistic pilgrimage to Dunhuang during his sophomore year at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

"At that moment, the stories concealed within those murals eluded my comprehension, yet their visual allure emanated a profound musical essence. The compositions, hues, and strokes bestowed upon me a cornucopia of melodic inspiration," he reminisced.