香港狂想曲 (Hong Kong Rhapsody)

"Hong Kong Rhapsody" is a piano composition that weaves together five significant songs related to Hong Kong, using classical music techniques to celebrate the city's struggle for freedom and democracy. Inspired by the traditions of Chopin and Liszt, who reinterpreted their cultural melodies into solo piano rhapsodies to support political causes, Ricker began composing this piece in October 2019 and has continuously revised it to reflect Hong Kong's evolving situation. The 2024 version includes a new section dedicated to political prisoners, including the "47," incorporates dissonant harmonies symbolizing intensified oppression by the Chinese Communist Party, and concludes with images of global protests to represent Hongkongers' ongoing journey. This latest performance was recorded at a concert in Toronto on November 2, 2024, marking the fifth anniversary of the Anti-Extradition Movement, with an audience of 800 in attendance.