Interview with the Governor
In August 1992, listeners to RTHK's "Friends on 4" heard a special edition of "By Invitation" when the head of Radio 4, Richard Tsang, invited the Governor, Mr. Chris Patten, to talk about his attitudes to music and the arts. Here are some extracts from their conversation.
| Richard Tsang: | What sort of music do you like most? |
| The Governor: | My tastes (45)(form a noun phrase) are very wide-ranging. I especially like popular music (47)(change the form) and traditional jazz. (46) My father was a professional musician when he was young and he loved traditional jazz. I sometimes listen to classical music and increasingly to opera. I normally work (53) (Change to present participle) with music playing and recently I've started to just sit quietly listening to music. When I motor (53) (change to present participle) alone, I listen to tapes. Music is an important part of my life, but I am perhaps untutored, less informed than I should be. |
| Richard Tsang | What was your first experience of classical music? |
| The Governor | I suppose that I first came to classical music through church(55) music. I didn't go to opera until I was about 14 when I went on a school trip to Vienna. I wasn't really enthusiastic about it until the sixth form and university.(56) (Use your own words) I can still remember hearing a great performance of Brahms' Second Piano Concerto when I was on a scholarship in the US. When I look back, I think of particular occasion when a piece of music has meant a lot (57) (Use your own word) to me or a performance(58) has moved me. |
| Richard Tsang | Do you sing? You look like a singer. |
| The Governor | Only in the bath or shower.(54) My sister is rather good. Given that our aunt(49) was a piano teacher and our father (50)was a professional musician, who upset his parents by refusing to attend university(50) and going off to be a drummer (51) in a band instead, it's surprising that I didn't play a musical instrument. Neither did my sister. I think my father took the view that children shouldn't have to be pushed into learning to play an instrument. Looking back, that's one of my biggest regrets(52). The most singing I do is in church (54) on Sunday mornings. |
| Richard Tsang | Do you have any special feelings about British composers? |
| The Governor | Not about recent ones, I have to confess. I know that there is a great tradition of modern music and composition, but I can¡¦t say that I'm a great enthusiast for modern British music. |
| Richard Tsang | To most people politics and the arts don't really mix. How does a politician contribute to the arts scene? |
| The Governor | I think art, music, and literature should matter to people in public life, because politics isn't the most important thing in the world. Of course politics is important, helping to run our community locally and nationally in as civilized and genial a way as possible. Most people realize that other things are most important, and politicians should too. Many people regard the family (59), the church, (60), and the arts (61)as more important. They civilize (62) you and put what you are doing into the context. (63). The arts give a context to life. I also think that politicians have a responsibility to create an atmosphere in which the arts can flourish, promoting private (64)and public(64) support. One thing my wife and I are very keen to do here in Hong Kong is to use this wonderful house to help support the performing arts. We're hoping to organize a series of concerts here in Government House. |
| Richard Tsang | Your earlier mention of Brahms shows an appreciation of the peace and beauty of music, lovely melodies, and fantastic moment - does that reflect your temperament? |
| The Governor | I hope so. Music does give me as sense of serenity and like a lot of other people I enjoy a really good tune( 48) , hence my lack of enthusiasm for modern British music. |
| Richard Tsang | Do you have any experience of Chinese music? |
| The Governor | No I don't, but I do think when we organize concerts in Government House, we should have mixed programs including Chinese music (65) as well. It is extremely important that we do what we can do to build a sense of culture in Hon g Kong in addition to developing its economic foundation. |
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Answers to the Questions from 45 to 65
| Q | Answers | Q | Answers | Q | Answers | Q | Answers | Q | Answers |
| 45. | musical preference, music taste | 46./ 47 | jazz and pop music |
48 | . tunes | 49 | . aunt, piano teacher | 50 | . father, university, drums |
| 51 | lessons | 52. | regrets | 53 | . motoring, driving and working | 54 | . bath, shower, church | 55. | church |
| 56 | going, studying | 57/ 58 |
great performance, particular occasion | 59/60/61 | family, church, arts | 62. | civilize | 63 | . context |
| 64 | private and public | 65. | Chinese music | ¡@ | ¡@ | ¡@ | ¡@ | ¡@ | ¡@ |
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