Interview of MR. WILLI BURGAR

1. What do you think about Hong Kong students? (Compare with German or the other countries)
   Hong Kong students are well trained. If I compare them with other countries, for example Europe, I believe that they are more trained. They have easy manner, they are unerring.
    
2. Do you agree that we should start to learn Harmonica when we were small? Which is the most suitable age to start to learn?
   I surely agree that harmonica study should begin since one is a child. It is better to begin with suitable instruments for each age. One must begin with less fatiguing instruments, in order to accustom all body organs to a graduated effort. An optimum age does not exist!
    
3. Do you think that Harmonica player is a bit difficult to play with the orchestra because of the turning 442 and 440?
   Musical instrument intonations has always been a problem, it is not easy to solve it. A good harmonica player must have instruments with tone 440-442-445 so he can deal with all orchestra difficulties.
    
4. What do you think about the development (future) of Harmonica orchestra in ASIA? (especially in Hong Kong ) ?
   I listened to Hong Kong Harmonica orchestra and many factors amazed me. It is a very good breeding ground …one begins as a “gregarious” … and one can become a true “soloist”, a “virtuoso”.
    
5. Which one you like most? The pure Harmonica band or Harmonica band with some brass and string instruments (Eg: Horn, Trumpet, Cello, and Flute)? And WHY?
   Undoubtedly a harmonica orchestra with other instruments such as brass or string instruments is more varied. “Colours” …”sound range” is more complete. It is less monotonic for a listener. Great orchestra composers gave us wonderful examples: they joined to the same harmonica phrases, different tones from different instruments.
    
6. Do you think Hong Kong is a good place to learn Harmonica? (Education?)
   I think that harmonica can be learned everywhere but in Hong Kong I found a very suitable “human climate”. A familial friendly atmosphere that undoubtedly can encourage a young player to study better, above all at school. To be in touch with other boys of the same age makes easier to study and, at the same time, supports competition that is very important in every field. To be driven by a “hidden” vigour is always stimulating.
    
7. What is your opinion with the simple score and the traditional score? Which one is easier for the Harmonica player? Which one more suitable for the beginners? 
   Assisted numerical scores can help young players to approach music but I believe that they must be replaced by traditional scores when the will to learn music is deep-rooted. Traditional score has so many interpretation signs, that numbers could never have. To read a score … to understand through composers sings what he wanted mean, is not always easy but it cannot be replaced by numbers. To own an original score edited by a good publisher house, is a wonderful. To enter in these pages, to guess note distribution, to understand musical phrases, their harmony and dynamics … is exciting. Numbers and other methods cannot be compared.
    
8. What do you think about Hong Kong? (LOTS OF GOOD FOOD? SHOPPING PARADISE? ETC.?)
   About Hong Kong I think all possible GOOD and FINE! I went to Hong Kong “to work” but, as a guest, I was “cuddled” and “spoiled”…It was that best thing that could happen to me!