Foreword Had it not been for the unanticipated pandemic that hit us, this recital would have taken place last September. For several months, our plans had to be kept on hold. Now, with the easing of social restrictions and after several setbacks and postponements, we are glad that our recital is finally happening. In this recital “Songs of Hope and Yearning”, our curated repertoire is an expression of both the current circumtances and more importantly an aspiration for better times ahead. It is with great pleasure that the four of us are able to come together to perform once again, after the La bohème production at the Esplanade last year. We are fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with many great individuals; Vincent Chen, who has guided us tremendously on our vocals and also for accompanying us on the piano; Hawk Liu, for guiding us on our choreography and also for being our videographer; Bendexter Lim, who shares his talent with us on his guitar. We are also delighted to be given the opportunity to present the premiere of arrangements written for us by local composer Lee Kah Hong Bernard. We hope that you enjoy this evening’s performance and repertoire line-up as much as we have enjoyed preparing for it. As we have a very limited seating capacity given the constraints imposed by the MOH and NAC guidelines, we will be sharing the recording of this recital for a limited time subsequently on social media, especially for those that we have inadvertently been unable to invite, so do keep a lookout for it! Thank you once again for coming and giving us the opportunity to sing for you.
Programme Once upon a time, there was a group of close-knit young lads of four who grew up together in a village. Two were brothers, one was their distant cousin and another, their neighbour. Since young, they wondered what the world outside of the village would be. Soon they came of age, and decided to leave their village to seek their own adventures and fortunes in the world beyond. Each having unique ideals and hopes, they ventured out into the unknown, each looking for a thing of their own. There was the elder brother, Jun, who believed in romance and went looking for that one everlasting love. Amor Ti Vieta (Love Forbids You) Dennis Lin Umberto Giordano Here we have his distant cousin, Jai, who looked at the world through the eyes of Art and ears for Music. If Music Be the Food of Love Jireh Koh Henry Purcell Lyrics by Colonel Henry Heveningham Then there’s Wee, who was the neighbour of the brothers. Since young, his parents were divorced, and left him to the care of the brothers’ household. He was thankful for the care and grew to be a person full of gratitude and with a big heart. Nevertheless, he longed for the presence of his parents and a family. He set out to seek belonging and build a family of his own. 博杯 Chen ZiHong (陈子鸿) Lyrics by Wu Xiong (武雄)
Tan Kian Wee
Finally, we come to Kai, the younger brother of Jun, who decided to stay behind in the village. Instead of going out into the world, he went within, seeking solace in his religion and spirituality - his reasons we will find out later on. Panis Angelicus Law Kai Xiang César Franck
The four lads made a promise that they will meet again in their hometown once they have achieved their dreams. As years passed by, nostalgia soon came upon them, as Wee, Kai and Jai remembered a song that they used to sing together when they were young. Edelweiss (雪绒花) Arranged by Lee Kah Hong Bernard
Tan Kian Wee Jireh Koh Law Kai Xiang
Remember Kai, the younger brother who sought solace in religion? He wasn’t like this all along. Back in the days, he fell in love with a girl named Lily, who was also loved by his brother, Jun. Sadly, Lily never realised Kai’s adoration, and unfortunately passed on soon after she married Jun. O del mio dolce ardor Christoph Willibald von Gluck
Law Kai Xiang
Strangely, in a moment of serendipity when they were leaving the village, they saw a girl. Lily’s Eyes Lucy Simon Lyrics by Marsha Norman
Law Kai Xiang Dennis Lin
The encounter with the girl caused an emotional outburst from Jun. Till I Hear You Sing Andrew Lloyd Webber
Dennis Lin
After the fateful encounter, Kai decided to put his heart and soul towards Divine Love. Ave Maria Vladimir Vavilov
Law Kai Xiang
On his journeys, Wee had found a person he loved and hoped to build a family with. However this did not last long and she left him. Wee reminiscenced the times they had together. 断腸詩 Lain (阿轮)
Tan Kian Wee
Alone on the other side of the world, Jai also hit his lowest as he struggled to find his personal liberation and expression through his music and his art. Lascia Ch’io Pianga George Frideric Handel Lyrics by Giacomo Rossi
Jireh Koh
At this time, Jai rediscovered a song he arranged back in the days in the village. Remembering the times he sang with the lads, he came to see that no matter how hopeless the situation, and no matter how big the block, sometimes the only way out is through. Hallelujah Leonard Cohen
Tan Kian Wee Law Kai Xiang Dennis Lin Jireh Koh
Jun also realised that life was too short to just look for love and be attached to the idea of romance. Desire, laughter and sorrow were just impressions of perceptions. Lachen und Weinen Franz Schubert
Dennis Lin
Reflecting on his lover’s departure, Wee wished her well. Gathering his thoughts, he believed all things happen for a reason, and we could overcome them if we had faith and loved the people around us. After all, he did have a family waiting for him back in the village. Believe Aled Jones
Tan Kian Wee
Soon after their realisations, the lads kept their promise to each other and came back to their hometown for their long awaited reunion. Auld Lang Syne (友谊地久天长) Arranged by Lee Kah Hong Bernard
Tan Kian Wee Law Kai Xiang Dennis Lin Jireh Koh
All wiser from their journeys and finally together again, they hope to see a world that is just, peaceful, and full of the beauty of Humanity. / Narrative by Lee Kah Hong Bernard, with supplementary edits from Tan Kian Wee & Jireh Koh
Artists’ Biography | Vocalists Tan Kian Wee | Tenor Kian Wee started singing in amateur-professional productions since 2019. His passion and love for performing is obvious as a chorister in productions such as La Cenerentola at Esplanade Concourse in February 2019 and La bohème at Esplanade Concourse in February 2020. He was also involved in William Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast with the Orchestra of Music Makers (OMM) at the Esplanade Concert Hall in August 2019 and later with Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra The Mad Chinaman’s 30th Anniversary of Dick Lee Concert at Esplanade Concert Hall in September 2019. Recently he also acted as Durien, in Cantio’s production of Trilby, Itinerary of a New Woman.
Law Kai Xiang | Baritone Kai Xiang recently graduated with a Master’s degree in Architecture (M.Arch) from the National University of Singapore (NUS). A choral enthusiast, he is also President of The Youth Choir (TYC), a relatively new ensemble formed in 2016 comprising enthusiastic young singers at heart who share the same choral experience growing up in Singapore. He has led the choir through various concerts, competitions and festivals, such as the Singapore International Choral Festival, Voices of Singapore Festival, Esplanade presents Voices - A Festival of Song and Christmas Wonderland @ Gardens by the Bay. Beyond his commitment to TYC, he has also been involved in the local music scene, ranging from operas to large-scale choral productions. Some of the more notable ones include Puccini’s La bohème, Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld and William Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast.
Dennis Lin | Tenor Dennis is an avid performer who has loved the stage since young. As a boy, he was featured as a solo singer in his primary school choir recording. He has since continued singing in his ITE and Polytechnic days, as well as at company events. He joined the Schola Cantorum Choir Singapore and participated in 2016 Singapore’s first production of Wagner’s dramatic opera The Flying Dutchman, playing the role of a sailor in the chorus. He was also part of a 5 male vocal group called The Amazing Human Piano for the Flipside Festival in Esplanade, and participated in music recital performance organized by Akiko Otao, Leslie Tay and Pauline Lee. As part of Symphonia Choralis, he performed works such as Leonard Bernstein’s Mass, Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast and Kingdom Hearts as a chorister. He was featured as a soloist with Sing Theatre, including at their recent performance at Esplanade. He further explored operatic performances under the music directorship of Vincent Chen, as a part of the chorus in Esplanade’s presentation of Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte, Rossini’s La Cenerentola and Puccini’s La bohème. Dennis is currently under the guidance of tenor Mr. Leslie Tay Hwee-Liang in continuing his vocal development, focusing on musical and classical vocal repertoires. He also attended masterclasses and received private lessons with Shane Schag, Music Director for the American Musical Theater Ensemble at the Manhattan School of Music.
Jireh Koh | Countertenor/ Bass Jireh Koh is a multidisciplinary artist and musician who aspires to bridge the sonic, visual and the physical in his practice. Starting out as a self-trained countertenor, he has since expanded into other forms of music and art-making, singing in barbershop quartets, chamber choirs, operas, as well as composing, recording and performing his own music in conjunction with his contemporary artistic practice, exhibiting his art and performing overseas and locally. He was part of the Goldsmiths Chamber Choir in London, singing bass in the mixed choir, and soprano in the SSAA choir, and was frequently featured as a countertenor soloist in the chamber choir’s concerts. He also sang as a soprano soloist as part of the opening act of the OperaGold 2016 contemporary operatic production. In the same year, Jireh was invited to be an honorary member of the University College London, LSE Barbershop Quartet, singing as tenor. Locally, he participated in the production of La Boheme in the Esplanade under the baton of Mr. Vincent Chen and the directing of Ms. Edith Podesta, playing various roles as a chorus member. Jireh graduated from Goldsmiths, University of London with a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art (Honours) in 2017. Since coming back to Singapore, Jireh was under the guidance of Mr. Thomas Quek, as well as Ms. Patricia Sands, formally continuing his vocal development focusing on classical vocal repertoire as a countertenor.
Artists’ Biography | Instrumentalists Vincent Chen | Pianist Vincent is the leading voice coach in Singapore and is starting to make his mark as a conductor. Vincent majored in Vocal Accompaniment at the Manhattan School of Music, studying with Kenneth Merrill. Prior to New York City, he studied with Rena Phua at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). He also took part in conducting masterclass conducted by Maestro Tsung Yeh with the Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra (BHSO). In 2017, he initiated a learning platform for singers to learn and prepare operatic roles for self-improvement or future performances. This culminated in the first free to public full-length performance of Cosi fan tutte at the Esplanade concourse in 2018. This was followed by La Cenerentola in 2019 and La bohème in 2020.
Bendexter Lim | Guitarist Bendexter is currently the music and training lead of Sambiesta, an afro-brazillian percussion band. He has performed at both local and international music festivals; and also featured regularly in corporate gigs by various brands and companies. As a self-taught guitarist, he started playing initially for the church’s worship team and has since moved on to play for various bands in the past 10 years.
Artists’ Biography | Advisors Lee Kah Hong Bernard | Music Advisor Lee Kah Hong Bernard received his Diploma in Music (Merit) in 2006 and Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Music in 2008 from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). In NAFA, he studied composition with Dr. Zechariah Goh Toh Chai and Dr. Kelly Tang, and had studied been under Dr. Joyce Koh Bee Tuan after graduated till 2014. His compositions have won prizes in various competitions, and have been premiered by notable ensembles such as The Philharmonic Winds, the Amigo Saxophone Quartet and Ding Yi Music Company. In 2011, his solo violin work And It Happened to Drop From Beneath was selected as the set piece for the Artist Category of the National Piano and Violin Competition for that year, in response to an open call for scores. A number of his works have also been recently performed and recorded at international music festivals such as the Asian Composers League 2014 (Japan), the Yogyakarta Contemporary Music Festival 2014 (Indonesia) and the Atlantic Music Festival 2014 (Maine, USA). Bernard is a recipient of the National Arts Council (Local) Bursary award in 2007, and the NAFA Merit award for his studies in both Diploma and Bachelor’s. He is also one of the founding members of the composers’ collective, Quinnuance.
Hawk Liu | Choreographer & Videographer Hawk Liu was a vocal student of Ms Carol Stone from Texas who lived in Singapore for about 10 years. Hawk also understudied and practised the teaching of vocal technique with her. He currently teaches private students in the classical singing technique. (http://hawkliu0.wixsite.com/singing) Hawk also provides video services specially catering to performances. (http://hawkliu0.wixsite.com/videography)
Programme Notes Amor Ti Vieta (Love Forbids You)
博杯
This aria was composed by Umberto Giordano for his opera Fedora.
博杯 is a simple ritual for divination used in temples and people who worship their ancestors in their homes. The practice is common in the traditional society of the Chinese people to seek guidance from departed ones or a higher power. A pair of wood chips in the shape of a three-dimensional crescent is used as a tool to communicate with the forces unseen.
Composed by: Umberto Giordano
The title “Amor ti Vieta” when translated, means “Love you forbidden”. This aria speaks about the main character Count Loris and his love for Fedora. In the opera, during the time that this piece was written for, Fedora finds out that Count Loris killed her fiance. She then swears to avenge his death. As the first step in her plan to capture Loris, she goes to Paris and attempts to get him to fall in love with her. Count Loris subsequently falls for Fedora’s trap as he professes his love for her in a party at Fedora’s house.
If Music be the Food of Love
Composed by: Henry Purcell Lyrics by: Colonel Henry Heveningham
The song If Music be the Food of Love is thought by some to be a setting of a Shakespearean text, however the only direct quotation is the first line, which matches the opening seven words heard in the Twelfth Night. Heveningham takes the first line of Shakespeare’s famous passage and develops the thought in a different way as an incitement to love. Purcell set this text twice in the 1690s, and made two slightly different versions of the first setting. The first was published in June 1692 in The Gentleman’s Journal, and then, somewhat altered, reproduced the next year in Heptinstall’s ‘Comes Amoris’.
Composed by: Chen ZiHong
It was written by the famous lyricist Wu Xiong (武雄) and composed by Chen ZiHong (陈子 鸿). Chen ZiHong wanted to create a song that is very “Taiwanese” and expresses things around life. Since 博杯 is a widespread practice in Taiwan and is something many Taiwanese people do and can relate to, 博杯 was written. I find this song to be very meaningful and touching. It depicts the thoughts and concerns one usually has in life and expresses the blessings and hopes one has for their loved ones. I decided to give this song a go as I really want people to hear this heart-warming song.
Panis Angelicus
Composed by: César Franck
Panis Angelicus (which translates as ‘Bread of Angels’) is a verse from the hymn ‘Sacris solemniis’, which was written by Saint Thomas Aquinas for the Feast of Corpus Christi in the 13th century. The verse – also referred to as a ‘strophe’ – later became famous in its own right, and has often been set to music separately from the rest of the piece. César Franck composed a beautiful Mass (Messe à trois voix) dating from 1861 that incorporates ‘Panis Angelicus’. The text was also set as a motet by Camille Saint-Saëns in 1898.
O del mio dolce ardor
Till I Hear You Sing
O del mio dolce ardor originates from the opera Paride ed Elena (Paris and Helen). In Paride ed Elena it is Paris, a prince of Troy, who sings this aria. As told in Homer’s Iliad, three goddesses ask Paris to decide who is the most beautiful amongst them.
The Phantom sings about how he has done next to nothing in the ten years since the events of the first musical took place. He now feels like he cannot be productive in any way until he hears Christine sing again.
Composed by: Christoph Willibald von Gluck
Paris chooses Aphrodite, and is rewarded with the love of the most beautiful woman in the world - Helen, queen of Sparta. He sings this aria upon arriving on a beach within sight of Sparta, and the object of his affections.
Lily’s Eyes
Composed by: Lucy Simon Lyrics by: Marsha Norman
Mary’s only request of Archibald is for a bit of earth to plant a garden of her own; it’s the one request he can’t grant, as she reminds him more and more of his Lily. As the Yorkshire gloom turns to rain, we meet Archibald’s brother and physician Neville. He and Archibald both notice that Mary has Lily’s Eyes, and we learn that Neville loved Lily as well, and still carries his jealosy for the girl “who loved my brother, never me.”
Composed by: Andrew Lloyd Webber
The Telegraph explains “the tortured hero longs to be reunited with his muse, Christine, with whom, the show reveals, he once shared a night of passion.” He will never be happy until he hears Christine sing again.
Ave Maria
Composed by: Vladimir Vavilov
Ave Maria is a popular and much recorded aria composed by Vladimir Vavilov, a Russian guitarist and composer, who published and recorded it in 1970 on the Melodiya label with the ascription to “Anonymous”. The attribution to Giulio Caccini was then supposedly made at a later date by a musician who performed with Vavilov.
断腸詩
Composed by: Lain (阿轮)
断腸詩 is another song sang by Jody Chiang in 2005. In contrast to 博杯 which is on a more hopeful note, 断腸詩 is a sorrowful song about yearning for love. I found this song interesting as it involves many different singing techniques heard traditionally in many “Hokkien/ Taiwanese” songs. I hope it will add colour to this recital and you will find it refreshing to hear something different.
Lascia Ch’io Pianga
Composed by: George Frideric Handel Lyrics by: Giacomo Rossi
Lascia Ch’io Pianga; ‘Let Me Weep’ is an aria from the opera Rinaldo. In Lascia ch’io pianga, the abducted Almirena, who is the love of Rinaldo’s life, sings of her cruel fate and her yearning for freedom in the enchanted garden of Armida, the ally of Rinaldo’s rival Argante.
Hallelujah
Composed by: Leonard Cohen
Hallelujah is folk-rock song written by Canadian singer Leonard Cohen, originally released on his album Various Positions (1984). Achieving little initial success, the song found greater popular acclaim through a recording by John Cale. John Cale’s selection of Cohen’s verses have been followed by most covers. His version is used in the film Shrek and popularity increased after being featured in it. Over 300 known versions have since been performed in recordings and in concert. Interestingly, this is not a worship song. Musically, it fits right in with traditional hymns but the lyrics, although filled with religious imagery (especially the title), are rarely appropriate. We will be singing one verse each and we hope that you will appreciate the different singing styles that we have.
Lachen und Weinen
Composed by: Franz Schubert
The text is from Friedrich Rückert’s collection of poems, Östliche Rosen (Eastern Roses), which was highly influenced by the poetry of the Persian poet Hafis. The poem was untitled in the collection, so Schubert named it after the opening line in the poem. Laughter and tears at any hour Rest on love in so many ways In the morning I laugh for joy; And why I now weep In the evening glow, Is something unknown to me. Tears and laughter at any hour Rest on love in so many ways In the evening I weep for sorrows And why you can awake In the morning with laughter, I must ask you, o heart.
Believe
Composed by: Aled Jones
I chanced upon this song recently in February and I fell in love with it immediately. This song was written and sang by Aled Jones in 2017. The song was beautifully written with lyrics that are positive and full of blessing for loved ones. The wishes of the lyrics are also what I hope for all my family members and friends and I knew I have to share it. Thankfully, all my singing mates were very receptive and supported my decision to sing this song for this recital, albeit being a last minute addition. I hope you will also be touched by this song and enjoy it as much as I do.
Auld Lang Syne (友谊地久天长) & Edelweiss (雪绒花) Arranged by: Lee Kah Hong Bernard
After watching a rendition of Auld Lang Syne and Edelweiss by a group of singers from China, the group approached me to make an arrangement for the songs. The arrangements on the show were brilliant and innovative. However, I decided for a different approach. Any respectable composer/ arranger would not copy or merely transcribe what was already existing material, amounting to plagiarism and infringement of copyright. Not to mention, the Chinese group had an accompanying live orchestra with a fantastic sound system, while the reality of this recital would only be accompanied by a piano and a guitar. Furthermore, I would be arranging for all-male voices and these are songs familiar to many. How do I make them fresh and interesting? I don’t really know the answer to the questions, and the arrangements you’ll hear this evening were not born out of “Eureka” moments, but slowly polished through trials and errors. Let’s start with Auld Lang Syne. I went with the idea of dramatizing it with a backstory of these four friends, having gone out to the world seeking their hopes and yearnings. Finally coming back on this particular New Year’s Day and meeting up with each other again in the place they grew up, they fulfilled a promise that they kept to each other. The piano sets the scene and the guitar on harmonics signified the clanging bells at midnight. The four friends came in one by one to the place they promised to meet. The vocalisations in the middle alludes to another familiar song (a song whose lyrics was changed, made famous by one Maria Cortez, featured in this Hong Kong jail movie). It remembers the promise for each other before they set off. As Auld Lang Syne gets back on track, it leads to a rousing ending when these four friends are finally reunited. This style of an ending would be associated by most Singaporeans with fireworks, and thus relate to that celebratory mood on any given New Year’s Day. While the group wanted Edelweiss, I also wanted to arrange for The Rainbow Connections. (Yes, that song sung by Kermit the Frog, and The Carpenters.) So I reconciled the two desires by juxtaposing the two songs. It was made more challenging by the request, from Kian Wee no less, to use the Mandarin lyrics of 雪绒花. However, I decided to insert the English lyrics “blossom of snow may you bloom and grow, bloom and grow forever” to serve up some nostalgic moments for myself when I first learnt about this song in the movie The Sound of Music. The ending of that movie saw the VonTrapp family moving through the Austrian Alps, trying to escape the Nazis. The connection between rainbow and a flower “Small and white” is implied. The ideal world need not be “clean and bright”, rather, an acceptance of all things colourful; the rainbow of the whole spectrum of life and its experiences – “the lovers, the dreamers and me”. Thus, this arrangement was intentionally kept child-like and dreamy.
Words to the Music Amor Ti Vieta (Love Forbids You)
博杯
Amor ti vieta di non amar. La man tua lieve, che mi respinge, Cercava la stretta della mia man: La tua pupilla esprime: T’amo Se il labbro dice: Non t’amero!
窗外清風一直吹 心事欲講抹詳細 有時悶悶想歸瞑 等無月光入來坐
Composed by: Umberto Giordano
If Music be the Food of Love
Composed by: Henry Purcell Lyrics by: Colonel Henry Heveningham
If music be the food of love, Sing on till I am fill’d with joy; For then my list’ning soul you move To pleasures that can never cloy. Your eyes, your mien, your tongue declare That you are music ev’rywhere. Pleasures invade both eye and ear, So fierce the transports are, they wound, And all my senses feasted are, Tho’ yet the treat is only sound, Sure I must perish by your charms, Unless you save me in your arms.
Composed by: Chen ZiHong
雙親頭鬃漸漸白 情愛誰人會賜配 無講出的彼句話 只有博杯問天地 問世間冷暖怎輪迴 事業前途應該走去叨 希望一切就會凍順適 大大小小平安快樂過 問緣份到底欠外多 為何真意真心 無地找 雖然就慣習孤單一個 並無放棄 有情人來陪 雙親頭鬃漸漸白 情愛誰人會賜配 無講出的彼句話 只有博杯問天地 問世間冷暖怎輪迴 事業前途應該走去叨 希望一切就會凍順適 大大小小平安快樂過 問緣份到底欠外多 為何真意真心 無地找 雖然就慣習孤單一個 並無放棄 有情人來陪 惦惦無聲 頭犁犁 看著紛亂的土地 誠心最後博一杯 望天替咱保庇這個家 誠心最後博一杯 望天替咱保庇這個家
Panis Angelicus
O del mio dolce ardor
Panis angelicus fit panis hominum, Dat panis coelicus figuris terminum;
O del mio dolce ardor Bramato oggetto, L’aura che tu respiri, Alfin respiro.
O res mirabilis manducat Dominium Pauper, pauper, servus et humilis, Pauper, pauper servus et humilis.
O vunque il guardo io giro, Le tue vaghe sembianze Amore in me dipinge: Il mio pensier si finge Le più liete speranze; E nel desio che così M’empie il petto Cerco te, chiamo te, spero e sospiro.
Composed by: César Franck
Edelweiss (雪绒花)
Arranged by: Lee Kah Hong Bernard
雪绒花，雪绒花 清晨迎接我开放 小而白，洁而亮 向我快乐地摇晃 白雪般的花儿愿你芬芳 永远开花生长 雪绒花，雪绒花 永远祝福我家乡 Du Du Du Du ~ Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow Bloom and grow forever 雪绒花，雪绒花 (Edelweiss) 永远祝福我家乡
Composed by: Christoph Willibald von Gluck
Lily’s Eyes
Composed by: Lucy Simon Lyrics by: Marsha Norman
Strangely quiet, but now the storm Simply rests to strike again Standing, waiting, I think of her I think of her
In Lily’s eyes a castle This house seemed to be And I, the bravest knight became My lady fair was she
Strange, this Mary, she leaves the room Yet remains, she lingers on Something stirs me to think of her I think of her
She has her eyes She has my Lily’s hazel eyes Those eyes that loved my brother never me Those eyes that never saw me Never knew I longed to hold her close To live at last in Lily’s eyes
From death she casts her spell All night we hear her sighs And now a girl has come Who has her eyes She has her eyes The girl has Lily’s hazel eyes Those eyes that saw him happy long ago Those eyes that gave him life And hope he’d never known How can he see the girl And miss those hazel eyes? She has her eyes The girl has Lily’s hazel eyes Those eyes that closed and left me all alone Those eyes I feel will never ever let me go How can I see this girl who has her hazel eyes?
Imagine me, a lover I longed for the day She’d turn and see me standing there Would God have let her stay She has her eyes She has my Lily’s hazel eyes Those eyes that saw me happy long ago (Those eyes that first I loved so) How can I now forget That once I dared to be in love Be alive and whole In Lily’s eyes, in Lily’s eyes
Till I Hear You Sing
Composed by: Andrew Lloyd Webber
The day starts The day ends Time crawls by Night steals in pacing the floor
And years come And years go Time runs dry Still I ache deep in my core
The moments creep Yet I can’t bear to sleep ‘Til I hear you sing
My broken soul Can’t be alive or whole ‘Til I hear you sing once more
And weeks pass And months pass Seasons fly Still you don’t walk through my door
And music, your music It teases at my ear I turn and it fades away And you’re not here
And in a haze I count the silent days ‘Til I hear you sing once more
Let hopes pass Let dreams pass Let them die Without you, what are they for?
And sometimes at darkness I dream that you are there But wake holding nothing But the cold night air
I’ll always feel No more than halfway real ‘Til I hear you sing once more!
Ave Maria
Hallelujah
Ave Maria, Ave Maria, Ave, Ave Maria. Ave Maria, Ave Maria, Ave, Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.
I’ve heard there was a secret chord That David played, and it pleased the Lord But you don’t really care for music, do ya? Well it goes like this, the fourth, the fifth The minor falls, the major lifts The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Composed by: Vladimir Vavilov
Ave Maria, Ave Maria, Ave, Ave Maria. Ave Maria, Ave Maria, Ave, Ave, Ave, Ave Amen.
断腸詩
Composed by: Lain (阿轮)
昨夜残风伤心雨 今日愁眉割心槽 踏上迢迢感情路 何必越头问归途 断肠诗 解酒意 一字一字啊 诉哀悲 三分醉 七分痴 十分相思啊 梦中见 断肠诗 梦破碎 一片一片啊 捡乎你 你无爱 我离开 此情绵绵啊 无了时 断肠诗 解酒意 一字一字啊 诉哀悲 三分醉 七分痴 十分相思啊 梦中见 昨夜残风伤心雨 今日愁眉割心槽 踏上迢迢感情路 何必越头问归途
Composed by: Leonard Cohen
[Chorus] Well your faith was strong but you needed proof You saw her bathing on the roof Her beauty in the moonlight overthrew ya She tied you to the kitchen chair She broke your throne, and she cut your hair And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah [Chorus] Well baby, I’ve been here before I’ve seen this room and I’ve walked this floor I used to live alone before I knew ya And I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch And love is not a victory march It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah [Chorus]
昨夜残风伤心雨 今日愁眉割心槽 踏上迢迢感情路 何必越头问 归途
Well maybe there’s a God above But all I’ve ever learned from love Was how to shoot somebody, who outgrew ya And it’s not a cry that you hear at night It’s not somebody, who’s seen the light It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah
Lascia Ch’io Pianga
[Chorus] x 2
Composed by: George Frideric Handel Lyrics by: Giacomo Rossi
Lascia ch’io pianga mia cruda sorte E che sospiri la liberta Il duolo infranga queste ritorte De miei martiri sol per pieta
Lachen und Weinen
Believe
Lachen und Weinen zu jeglicher Stunde Ruht bei der Lieb auf so mancherlei Grunde. Morgens lacht’ ich vor Lust, Und warum ich nun weine Bei des Abendes Scheine, Ist mir selb’ nicht bewußt.
May your day be filled with blessings Like the sun that always lights the sky May you always have great courage To spread your wings and fly May you have a friendly greeting For those you meet along life’s way And until we meet again My soul renews you
Composed by: Franz Schubert
Weinen und Lachen zu jeglicher Stunde Ruht bei der Lieb’ auf so mancherlei Grunde. Abends weint’ ich vor Schmerz; Und warum du erwachen Kannst am Morgen mit Lachen, Muß ich dich fragen, o Herz.
Composed by: Aled Jones
So let eternal light shine forth Let all our hearts be entwined Come let the light of life burn bright In a heaven and now on earth May the joy flow deep within you And honest be the hearts of those you love May your tender hand be open With guidance from above May your passage be a safe one As you live your life from day to day And until we meet again My soul renews you So let eternal light shine forth Let all our hearts be entwined Come let the light of life burn bright In a heaven and now on earth So let eternal light shine forth Let all our hearts be entwined Come let the light of life burn bright In a heaven and now on earth And until we meet again And until we meet again And until we meet again In a heaven above
Auld Lang Syne (友谊地久天长) Arranged by: Lee Kah Hong Bernard
怎能忘记旧日朋友，心中岂能怀想 旧日朋友岂能相忘，友谊地久天长 友谊万岁，万岁朋友，友谊万岁 举杯痛饮，同声歌颂友谊地久天长 我们曾经终日游荡在故乡的青山上 我们也曾历尽苦辛到处奔波流浪 友谊万岁，万岁朋友，友谊万岁 举杯痛饮，同声歌颂友谊地久天长 [绿岛小乐曲] - Voices Humming 我们往日情意相投，让我们紧握着手 让我们来举杯畅饮，友谊地久天长 友谊万岁，万岁朋友，友谊万岁 举杯痛饮，同声歌颂友谊地久天长 友谊万岁，万岁朋友，友谊万岁 举杯痛饮，同声歌颂友谊地久天长
Acknowledgements The vocalists would like to extend our appreciation to the following people; Vincent Chen voice coach and piano accompaniment Lee Kah Hong Bernard music arrangement and narrative Hawk Liu choreography & video documentation Bendexter Lim guitar accompaniment Sharanyaa De Laure emcee & narrator Dionne Chua front-of-house Law Kai Xiang poster & programme booklet design Alice Koh & Dennis Lin design & fabrication of masks Lee Kah Hong Bernard, Dennis Lin, Jireh Koh & Law Kai Xiang programme notes and of course, you, the audience, for joining us today.
For donations, kindly scan the QR Code above. For ease of identification, kindly type “SOHAY” under transaction comments, thank you!