Mother Nature is the greatest treasure-trove of creativity. Without nature providing us with materials and inspiration, human beings are not able to create any masterpieces of art. World indigenous music is one of the greatest examples among all genres of art. Our ancestors were able to use all sorts of natural resources as the materials of musical instruments and started creating music by mimicking the essence of nature. The ability to create music from nature is deeply rooted in our inborn nature. But not many of us are aware of this precious gift.

Coelacanth, a group of local indigenous musicians will present “World Indigenous Music Jamming” at High Island, Sai Kung this winter. Participants will do free jamming in the nature together. The ensemble breaks the limits brought by identity, instruments, ability and music genres. Participants may have multiple experiences including learning, composing, sharing and appreciating, connecting their hearts with music and with others.

During the programme, Coelacanth will introduce some indigenous music instruments and some basic mechanisms and wisdoms behind them. Coelacanth will lead participants to observe rhythm and pattern of nature and look for materials from nature and inspiration to create an improvised music jamming session. Coelacanth hopes the session will help lighten up the nature of creativity of the participants and let them immerse in the joy of improvised music jamming.

Collaborator’s Introduction:

Coelacanth is a Hong Kong-based world music group performing ethnic musical instruments. The group usually performs with Didgeridoo, mouth harp, handpan and varieties of indigenous music instruments.

Coelacanth was formed in 2015. The group began making music by busking in the streets. The group participated in different performances in theatres, schools, communities and different arts festivals, to exchange with different performing media and artists. Coelacanth has built up interactive and improvised performing styles from these experiences. The group hopes to discover new possibilities of sound and music, through learning from the primitive musical instruments and the wisdoms of indigenous cultures from all over the world.

The name Coelacanth is inspired by an ancient order of fish: coelacanth, which was believed to be extinct. Coelacanths actually survived through the past 400 million years, acting as a witness of time and evolution. The artistic nature of Coelacanth’s music is similar to the order of coelacanth fish. Ethnic music may be considered obscure and absent by the majority. But in reality, indigenous music is still serving an active role in the development of music, cultures and world views. The group hopes to seek and bring inner harmony to the society by their music creations, like how coelacanth fish that proves the existence of evolution.