LAN SHUI Music Director
SSO NATIONAL DAY CONCERT 11 August 2018
Esplanade Concert Hall
Performing Home of the SSO Darrell Ang, conductor Kam Ning, violin Singapore Symphony Choruses Eudenice Palaruan, choral director Wong Lai Foon, choirmaster
11 Aug 2018, Sat
SSO NATIONAL DAY CONCERT Singapore Symphony Orchestra Darrell Ang, conductor Singapore Symphony Choruses Eudenice Palaruan, choral director Wong Lai Foon, choirmaster Danny Yeo, emcee Abigail Chow, sign language interpreter KELLY TANG
Symphonic Suite on a Set of Local Tunes 12’00
SYAFIQAH ‘ADHA SALLEHIN
Bidasari 4’00
CHEN ZHANGYI
VANDA, Violin Concerto 17’00 Kam Ning, violin
Intermission 20’00
KELLY TANG
Sketches of Singapore 9’00
WANG CHENWEI
The Sisters’ Islands 13’00
LIANG WERN FOOK (arr. SAMUEL TAN)
“This is Singapore” Medley 5’00 (Excerpts from Liang Wern Fook Xinyao Medley)
ZUBIR SAID (arr. PHOON YEW TIEN)
Semoga Bahagia 4’00
S. JESUDASSAN (arr. PHOON YEW TIEN)
Munnaeru Vaalibaa 3’00
DICK LEE (arr. KELLY TANG)
Home 3’00
In collaboration with
SSO is delighted to partner the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (Audio Arts & Science programme) for sound production of 'Live' from the Esplanade Concert Hall. Concert duration: 1 hr 45 mins Go green. Digital programme booklets are available on www.sso.org.sg. Scan the QR code in the foyer to view a copy.
THE SSCC EXPERIENCE 3 & 4 September 2018 9am - 6pm For kids with a passion for singing! Join us for an unforgettable day of choral music-making. Help your child discover his or her own voice with workshops conducted by our Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir (SSCC) conductors. Participants will get a chance to experience a day in the life of an SSCC singer and even have the opportunity to sing on stage at the iconic Victoria Concert Hall! The SSCC Experience is a programme for treble voices. If you’ve got a transitioning voice and are still keen to join us, we’d be glad to have you! *Please note that the repertoire may include some liturgical works.
National Day Special!
20% off
SSChildrensChoir
Valid from 11 – 12 Aug 18, 11.59pm Promo code: ND20
For treble voices, ages 8 (born 2010) to 15 Fee: $88 per participant Registration closing date: 25 August 2018
SSO.ORG.SG/SSCCEXPERIENCE
S ing a p or e S y mp hon y Or c he s t r a
Since its founding in 1979, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) has been Singapore’s flagship orchestra, touching lives through classical music and providing the heartbeat of the cultural scene in the cosmopolitan city-state. In addition to its subscription series concerts, the orchestra is well-loved for its outdoor and community appearances, and its significant role educating the young people of Singapore. The SSO has also earned an international reputation for its orchestral virtuosity, having garnered sterling reviews for its overseas tours and many successful recordings.
Since Lan Shui assumed the position of Music Director in 1997, the SSO has performed in Europe, Asia and the United States. In May 2016 the SSO was invited to perform at the Dresden Music Festival and the Prague Spring International Music Festival. This successful five-city tour of Germany and Prague also included the SSO’s return to the Berlin Philharmonie after six years. In 2014 the SSO’s debut at the 120th BBC Proms in London received critical acclaim in the major UK newspapers The Guardian and Telegraph. The SSO has also performed in China on multiple occasions.
The SSO makes its performing home at the 1,800-seat state-of-the-art Esplanade Concert Hall. More intimate works and all outreach and community performances take place at the 673-seat Victoria Concert Hall, the home of the SSO. The orchestra performs 100 concerts a year, and its versatile repertoire spans all-time favourites and orchestral masterpieces to exciting cutting-edge premieres. Bridging the musical traditions of East and West, Singaporean and Asian musicians and composers are regularly showcased in the concert season. This has been a core of the SSO's programming philosophy from the very beginning under Choo Hoey, who was Music Director from 1979 to 1996.
Notable SSO releases under BIS include a Rachmaninov series, a “Seascapes” album, two Debussy discs “La Mer” and “Jeux”, and the first-ever cycle of Tcherepnin’s piano concertos and symphonies. The SSO has also collaborated with such great artists as Lorin Maazel, Charles Dutoit, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Neeme Järvi, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Diana Damrau, Martha Argerich, Lang Lang, Yo-Yo Ma, Janine Jansen, Leonidas Kavakos and Gil Shaham.
“A fine display of orchestral bravado for the SSO and Shui” The Guardian
DARRELL ANG conductor Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Sichuan Orchestra of China since December 2016, Darrell Ang is a regular guest conductor at the Mariinsky Theatre by invitation of Valery Gergiev. This season he returns to the NHK Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic with cellist Kian Soltani, Queensland Symphony with violist Antoine Tamestit, the Haydn Orchestra of Bolzano/Trento, Munich Radio, Barcelona Symphony, China National Symphony, and National Taiwan Symphony with Vienna Philharmonic Principal Flautist Karl-Heinz Schütz. His numerous debuts include orchestras in Moscow, Bologna, Lausanne, Malmö, Ankara, Montpellier, Marseille, Denmark’s Sønderborg and the Japan Philharmonic in Tokyo. His growing operatic profile includes recent performances of Don Giovanni and Rigoletto at the Mariinsky, Carmen at Estonian National Opera, Die Zauberflöte and Nijinsky’s Tagebuch in Bordeaux, Der fliegende Holländer in Singapore and Così fan tutte in Toulon. One of Asia’s most sought-after conductors, Darrell Ang has conducted orchestras in over twenty countries across
the globe last season. His recording successes for the Naxos label include bestselling albums featuring French composers, and his first disc of Chinese composers was nominated for a Grammy in 2016. Born in Singapore, Darrell Ang studied conducting in St. Petersburg with Leonid Korchmar and continued at Yale with Shinik Hahm. He became the youngest Associate Conductor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra – working closely with Music Director Lan Shui – and also served as Music Director of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra. He took all three top awards at the 50th Besançon International Young Conductors’ Competition, leading to the Music Directorship of the Orchestre Symphonique de Bretagne (20122015). Darrell was selected to join the International Conductors’ Academy of the Allianz Cultural Foundation, taking on residencies with the London Philharmonic and the Philharmonia Orchestra. Lorin Maazel and Esa-Pekka Salonen were his mentors, to whom he remains grateful for their invaluable advice and support.
K AM NING violin Hailed by Strad magazine as a “strong artistic personality”, Singaporean violinist Kam Ning has performed all over the globe. As Second Prize winner at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 2001, she was praised by Belgium’s De Standaard as “manifestly the best violinist of the competition”, winning the Flemish Radio and Television Audience Prize that same year. She has performed under the batons of Yehudi Menuhin, Lorin Maazel, Okko Kamu, Lan Shui and Louis Langree, and has collaborated in chamber music with Yehudi Menuhin, Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Marie Hallynck and Louis Lortie amongst many others. As a recording artist, her albums include: Transatlantic, dedicated to the music of Kam Kee Yong, under the Cicada label; August De Boeck’s Violin Concerto, under the Etcetera label; Road Movies with pianist, Albert Tiu under Meridian Records and most recently an album with works for violin and piano with pianist, Liebrecht Vanbeckevoort on Etcetera. Her recordings have won rave reviews by American Record Guide, Fanfare and Crescendo magazines.
In 2002, Ning was invited to perform at the National Inauguration of the Esplanade Concert Hall in Singapore. Between 2011 and 2017, she was Artistic Director of Het Kamerorkest Brugge, which earned a reputation for its innovative energy for contemporary music under her leadership. She also regularly guest directs orchestras such as the Rheinische Philharmonie, Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen and the Re:sound Collective. Ning is a founding member of Loco Motive, a bluegrass, jazz and funk trio with cellist Sebastien Walnier and bassist Lisa De Boos. She was appointed Professor of Violin at the Conservatoire Royal de Musique de Bruxelles in 2017. Since April 2012, she has been an Ambassador for International China Concern, a Christian charity that cares for the abandoned and disabled in China. Kam Ning plays on a 1668 Nicolas Amati on generous loan from the Rin Collection, Singapore.
Supporting the Local Arts and Cultural Scene Partner of SSO since 1978 NSL is a long-standing sponsor for Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO). We have been instrumental in helping the Orchestra reach out to the community-at-large as SSO brings music to the world. A leading industrial group in the Asia Pacific with businesses in Precast & Prefabricated Bathroom Unit and Environmental Services, NSL believes that while achieving business goals is important, its actions need to also create a positive impact on the community, environment and all stakeholders.
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Eudenice Palaruan choral director Eudenice Palaruan studied at the University of the Philippines majoring in composition under Ramon Santos (National Artist for Music) and choral conducting under Joel Navarro. After finishing his Bachelor’s Degree in the Philippines, he took on a four-year study in choral conducting at the Berliner Kirchenmusikschule, Germany under Martin Behrmann. As a chorister and vocalist he has performed with leading choirs such as the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Ateneo de Manila College Glee Club, Berlin Spandauer Kantorei, and the World Youth Choir. He was also involved in early music performance practice as a countertenor with the Berlin Monteverdichor and continuo player at the Philippine International Bamboo Organ Festival. On the podium he was the Music Director of the Ateneo de Manila College Glee Club, Assistant Choir Master of the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Principal Conductor of the San Miguel Master Chorale and the Union Church of Manila Chancel Choir. For the past seven years he was the Resident Conductor of the International Bamboo Organ Festival where he directed some of Philippines’ leading choirs in the
performance of early European choral music and the revival of Latin American Baroque choral music. As a composer and arranger Palaruan introduced choral and other vocal works that exhibit the indigenous Filipino sound. His works are performed by Asian and European choirs in international festivals and competitions. With his active involvement in the choralization of Philippine and other Asian indigenous music he premiered a significant volume of new Asian choral works and is often invited to give lectures on non-Western vocal aesthetics and choral arranging in the Asian context. As a music pedagogue he taught composition and cantorship at the Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music, choral conducting subjects at the University of the Philippines College of Music and the St. Paul University Manila College of Music and the Performing Arts. Currently he is an Associate Professor at the School of Church Music in Singapore Bible College, training and mentoring young church musicians from different Asian countries.
Wong lai foon choirmaster As a founder-conductor of the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir (SSCC), Wong Lai Foon has dedicated the past twelve years towards building up the ensemble to become the leading children’s choir in the nation. Under her direction, the SSCC has garnered much praise for its impressive choral tone, and its musically precise and polished performances, earning it the commendation of “one of the best children’s choirs in Asia” in a recent review. In her capacity as Choirmaster, Wong has overseen the expansion of the SSCC, which now comprises a Concert Choir, Training Choir, three preparatory choirs, a Boys’ Ensemble and a Youth Choir. She has also led the Concert Choir on two tours, performing at the Philharmonie de Paris in 2015 in collaboration with the Maîtrise de Radio France, and at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, Kuala Lumpur, during a joint concert tour with the Singapore National Youth Orchestra. In commemoration of the SSCC’s 10th Anniversary in 2016, Wong directed the choir in a series of exciting performances and projects, one of which was the recording of SSCC’s first CD, And I’ll Sing Once More. In her effort to increase the body of treble choral works by local composers, Wong has made it a point to
commission a new work each year, and has thus far commissioned works by Chen Zhangyi, Kelly Tang and Lee Chin Sin. In addition to their annual appearances at the SSO Christmas Concerts, Wong prepares the SSCC for their regular collaborations with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Past performances have included Mahler’s Symphony No. 3, Berlioz’s La damnation de Faust and the Te Deum, Britten’s War Requiem, Bizet’s Carmen, and most recently, La bohème by Puccini. Through her work with the SSCC, Wong aspires to inspire a generation of young choral singers to embrace the choral art and strive for musical and artistic excellence. In demand as a conductor with choirs across various segments of the community, Wong is the Resident Conductor of the Methodist Festival Choir, and Assistant Conductor of The Philharmonic Chamber Choir. She has also previously prepared works for the Singapore Symphony Chorus and Singapore Lyric Opera. She received her Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting from Westminster Choir College, under the tutelage of Joseph Flummerfelt.
Singapore Symphony Chorus EUDENICE PALARUAN choral director SHANE THIO rehearsal pianist The Singapore Symphony Chorus (SSC) made its debut in 1980, under the direction of Choo Hoey, then Music Director of the SSO and now SSO Emeritus Conductor. In 1981, Singaporean conductor Lim Yau was appointed its Choral Director. Under his tutelage, the chorus has amassed a wide repertoire, performing such works as Macmillan’s Seven Last Words from the Cross, Arvo Pärt’s Te Deum, Britten’s War Requiem, and Bach’s St John Passion, amongst many others. The chorus is recognised as one of the finest in the region and one of the few symphony choruses in Southeast Asia. It has performed under the baton of renowned conductors such as Peter Erdei, Eric Ericsson, John Nelson, Claus Peter Flor, Okko Kamu, and Masaaki Suzuki. Today, presiding Choral Director Eudenice Palaruan leads the choristers, who come from a myriad of nationalities and backgrounds. In 2017, the chorus went on its first tour with the SSO, performing at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas in Kuala Lumpur.
Singapore Symphony Youth Choir WONG LAI FOON choirmaster EVELYN HANDRISANTO rehearsal pianist An up-and-coming addition to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s choruses, the Singapore Symphony Youth Choir was formed in 2016 to complement the orchestra with a chorus of young people’s voices. It is a platform for young adults to pursue their interest in choral singing, as well as enable mature members of the Children’s Choir to continue their development in classical choral singing. Comprising Singapore’s finest young choristers aged between 17 and 28, the SSYC explores the best of different musical worlds and styles, ranging from orchestral to a cappella masterpieces, spanning the Renaissance to the 21st century.
Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir WONG LAI FOON choirmaster GABRIEL HOE rehearsal pianist Formed in 2006, the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir has established itself as the leading children’s choir in Singapore. With over 200 members aged 9 to 18, the choir seeks to enrich young singers through holistic choral training that nurtures artistic growth and personal development. The children’s choir tours internationally, and has performed great choral masterpieces with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, with distinguished conductors such as Lim Yau, Claus Peter Flor, Sofi Jeannin, François-Xavier Roth and Julie Desbordes. It has performed at the Philharmonie de Paris in a collaborative performance of Berlioz’s Te Deum with the Maîtrise de Radio France, as well as at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas in Kuala Lumpur, partnering the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra in concert. The choir has commissioned and performed Singaporean works by Chen Zhangyi, Lee Chin Sin, and Cultural Medallion winner Kelly Tang. In Singapore, the choir has an active performing calendar, having performed at the Istana for the prestigious Cultural Medallion & Young Artist Award and shared the stage with critically acclaimed The King’s Singers. The choir released their first recording, And I’ll Sing Once More, to mark its 10th anniversary in 2016. The Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir is proud to have Mr Christopher Ho and Mrs Rosy Ho as its Principal Champion.
COMB INE D CHORU S SOPRANO Karen Aw Bryan Carmichael Anne-Sophie Cazaubon Ariane Cazaubon Chin Jia Yu Chin Li Han Ria Chhabra Chow Cheng Shon Sophie Du Toit Nia Edwards Goh Chen Xi Karin Hesse Tania Ibrahim Hana Kasai Jayden Lai Sonja Lam Janice Lim Marisa Lee Eleesha Lewis Ron Loo Lu Huaiyao Ng Beng Choo Chloe Ong Michael Robinson Sarah Santhana See To Yu Rong Miki Taguchi Kate Tan Tan Yuqing Tan Yuting Pollyanna Tang Sachiko Tomimori Masumi Tsuchiya Raeanne Wong Mao Yamaura Seia Yano Ashley Yeo
ALTO Päivi Aalto Arnie Arfiee Ashley Chai David Cho Maria Erika Goh Huang Ziyan Truly Hutapea Trinetra Kumarasan Dorothy Lee-Teh Ellyn Lew Ethan Lew Giselle Lim Hannah Lim Wendy Lim Lin Wei Josephine Loh Javier Loke Sharon Low Sebastini Manimohan Diego Marcotty Kellianne Ng Eunice Ng-Chee Violet Ong Samyukta Sounderraman Tai Jien Nee Emily Tan Freda Tan Tan Li En Tan Yulin Shannen Tay Karen Yau Abigail Yeo
TENOR Jean-Michel Bardin Arjun Chhabra Calvin Chin Chng Chin Han Shunsho Ando Heng Loh Shao Wei Oh Chin Aik Ronald Ooi Wesley Oon Yann Perron Siak Choon Kit Ian Tan Danial Elias Teo Justin Teng Aloysius Wong Caleb Yeo BASS William Chua Winsen Citra Alfonso Cortez Arthur Davis Mika Lam Jon Loh Joseph Kennedy Khor Gui Wei David Neal Kevin Neeson Bjorn Soo David Tao Tan Liang Rong Raymond Wu
T he G K G oh C h a ir The SSO Concertmaster Chair is named for Mr GK Goh. We would like to thank the Family and Friends of Mr Goh Geok Khim for their donations. We are especially grateful to Mr and Mrs Goh Yew Lin for their most generous donation.
Igor Yuzefovich, Concertmaster The GK Goh Chair
MA J OR GIFT S The SSO recognises major gifts in a variety of ways, including the naming of a position in the Orchestra. Endowing a Musician Chair associates your name with an orchestral position that has a special significance to you.
For more information about making a gift to the SSO, please write to peggykek@sso.org.sg
SSO MU S ICIAN S Lan Shui Music Director joshua tan Associate Conductor andrew litton Principal Guest Conductor Choo Hoey Conductor Emeritus Eudenice Palaruan Choral Director WONG LAI FOON Choirmaster
FIRST VIOLIN Igor Yuzefovich° Concertmaster, The GK Goh Chair Lynnette Seah Co-Concertmaster Kong Zhao Hui* Associate Concertmaster Chan Yoong-Han Fixed Chair Cao Can* Chen Da Wei Duan Yu Ling Foo Say Ming Gu Wen Li Jin Li Cindy Lee Lim Shue Churn^ Sui Jing Jing Karen Tan William Tan Wei Zhe SECOND VIOLIN Michael Loh Associate Principal Hai-Won Kwok Fixed Chair Nikolai Koval*
Lee Shi Mei^ Chikako Sasaki* Margit Saur Shao Tao Tao Lillian Wang Wu Man Yun* Xu Jue Yi* Ye Lin* Yeo Teow Meng Yin Shu Zhan* Zhang Si Jing* VIOLA Zhang Manchin Principal Guan Qi Associate Principal Gu Bing Jie* Fixed Chair Marietta Ku Luo Biao Julia Park Shui Bing Tan Wee-Hsin Janice Tsai Wang Dandan Yang Shi Li CELLO Ng Pei-Sian Principal Yu Jing Associate Principal Guo Hao Fixed Chair Chan Wei Shing Song Woon Teng Wang Yan Wang Zihao* Wu Dai Dai Zhao Yu Er DOUBLE BASS Guennadi Mouzyka Principal Yang Zheng Yi Associate Principal Karen Yeo Fixed Chair Olga Alexandrova Jacek Mirucki Wang Xu FLUTE Jin Ta Principal Evgueni Brokmiller Associate Principal
Roberto Alvarez Miao Shanshan
TRUMPET
Roberto Alvarez Assistant Principal
Jon Paul Dante Principal David Smith Associate Principal Lau Wen Rong Sergey Tyuteykin
OBOE
TROMBONE
Rachel Walker Principal Pan Yun Associate Principal Carolyn Hollier Elaine Yeo
Allen Meek Principal Damian Patti Associate Principal Samuel Armstrong
COR ANGLAIS
Wang Wei Assistant Principal
PICCOLO
Elaine Yeo Associate Principal CLARINET Ma Yue Principal Li Xin Associate Principal Liu Yoko Tang Xiao Ping
BASS TROMBONE
TUBA Hidehiro Fujita Principal Teng Siang Hong^ TIMPANI Christian Schiøler Principal Jonathan Fox Associate Principal
BASS CLARINET Tang Xiao Ping Assistant Principal BASSOON Liu Chang Associate Principal Christoph Wichert Zhao Ying Xue CONTRA BASSOON Zhao Ying Xue Assistant Principal HORN Han Chang Chou Principal Gao Jian Associate Principal Jamie Hersch Associate Principal Marc-Antoine Robillard Associate Principal Kartik Alan Jairamin^
PERCUSSION Jonathan Fox Principal Mark Suter Associate Principal Lim Meng Keh Joachim Lim^ Tan Pei Jie^ Zhu Zheng Yi HARP Gulnara Mashurova Principal PIANO Shane Thio^ Principal DIZI/OCARINA Joyce Poh
*With deep appreciation to the Rin Collection for their generous loan of string instruments. °Igor Yuzefovich plays an instrument generously loaned by Mr & Mrs G K Goh ~Lynnette Seah performs on a J.B. Guadagnini of Milan, c. 1750, donated by the National Arts Council, Singapore, with the support of Far East Organisation and Lee Foundation. ^Musician on temporary contract Musicians listed alphabetically by family name rotate their seats on a per programme basis.
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B ec ome a n S S O Sp on s or
Join our prestigious list of corporate patrons and sponsors Contribute to the national orchestra and form a special relationship with one of Singapore’s most celebrated arts organisations. By committing to growing the arts through the SSO, you can increase your organisation’s visibility and reach an influential and growing audience. We would like to express our deepest appreciation to the following companies and organisations that support our mission to create memorable shared experiences with music: Major Corporate Patrons
Major Corporate Sponsors
Temasek Foundation Nurtures CLG Ltd Far East Organization Santa Lucia Asset Management Pte Ltd Interchem Pte Ltd John Swire & Sons (S E Asia) Pte Ltd Aquilus Pte Ltd Lee Foundation, Singapore G K Goh Holdings Ltd Kingsmen Exhibit Pte Ltd NSL Ltd
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For details on sponsorships, please write to director_ development@sso.org.sg.
K E L LY TANG (b. 1961)
rhythmic manipulations, as well as harmonic and textural dressing. The four tunes were carefully chosen to blend well in a continuous yet dramatic musical flow. After the opening fanfare, the nostalgic strains of Home begin the Suite, followed by the joyous energy of Chan Mali Chan. The pace mellows as the luscious melody of Bunga Sayang unfolds. The Suite ends with the pulsating grandeur of Singapore Heartbeat.
Kelly Tang’s compositions have been performed by the Russian National Orchestra, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra, Ensemble contemporain de Montréal, Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines (UK) and “The President's Own” United States Marine Band. His music has been presented worldwide at Berlin Konzerthaus, Musikverein Golden Hall (Vienna), Suntory Hall (Tokyo), Palais de l'Élysée (Paris), St. Paul’s Cathedral (London) and Carnegie Hall (New York). For Singapore’s 50th anniversary celebrations, Tang’s Concerto in Three Movements was premiered by superstar pianist Lang Lang with the Metropolitan Festival Orchestral in 2015. For his contributions in the arts, Tang was conferred the Cultural Medallion in 2011 by the President of Singapore.
Programme note by Kelly Tang
Symphonic Suite on a Set of Local Tunes 12’00 The Suite attempts to draw out symphonic possibilities embedded in four popular melodies. The beautiful simplicity of the tunes provides a basis for elaborate
Instrumentation flute, piccolo oboe, cor anglais 2 clarinets bassoon contrabassoon 4 horns 3 trumpets 3 trombones tuba timpani wind chime, suspended cymbal, cymbals, bass drum, triangle, tam-tam, xylophone, snare drum, glockenspiel harp strings Commissioned and premiered by SSO: 1 May 2004, Esplanade Concert Hall
S YAFIQAH ‘A DHA S A L L EHIN (b. 19 9 0)
Syafiqah’s works as a composer often incorporate elements of her national identity, cultural heritage and themes of myths and fantasy. Her compositions and arrangements have been performed locally and abroad. Syafiqah is also a strong advocator of traditional Malay music and is Singapore’s only accomplished female traditional Malay music accordionist. She is the Music Director of traditional Malay music ensemble, Gendang Akustika, and is the co-founder of a syncretic world music ensemble called Open Score Project.
Bidasari
4’00
This piece is an orchestration of a character theme taken from the composer’s original work Ikan Girl, a multidisciplinary theatrical dance and music work that was commissioned in 2016 for the 2nd Singapore International
Programme note by Syafiqah 'Adha Sallehin
Instrumentation 2 flutes, 1 doubling on piccolo 2 oboes 2 clarinets 2 bassoons 4 horns 3 trumpets 3 trombones tuba tam-tam, wood block, shell chime, vibraphone, bass drum harp piano strings Premiere of new arrangement by SSO: 11 Aug 2018
PROGRAMME NOTES
Syafiqah ‘Adha Sallehin graduated from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music with a Masters of Music in Music Composition in 2016. She was a recipient of MENDAKI’s “Goh Chok Tong Youth Promise Award” in 2010.
Festival of Music. The work is based on the pan-Malay folklore called Syair Bidasari, a tale of a girl named Bidasari whose life and soul is bonded to a fish. Bidasari reflects the mystical and demure disposition of the title character. The composer, drawing from her cultural heritage, incorporated nuances of traditional Malay music into the music’s lilting melodies through the use of ornamentation and familiar melodic motives. Sound colours of the harp, piano and vibraphone are employed to paint a fantastical atmosphere of Bidasari’s universe.
CHEN ZHANGYI (b. 198 4)
play on the name ‘Joaquim’, which sounds like ‘Joachim’, the great violinist for whom Johannes Brahms wrote his violin concerto.
The music of Chen Zhangyi has been described by The Straits Times as “a breath of fresh air on our musical landscape”. His orchestral works such as VANDA, Rain Tree, and 'of an ethereal symphony' are often inspired by nature; while the dramatic music such as Singapore Trilogy often explores the musical representation of Singaporean culture. In 2014, he was conferred the Young Artist Award by the National Arts Council. Chen currently serves as Assistant Professor of Composition Studies and Contemporary Music at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, where he teaches composition, theory and leads the contemporary music ensemble, OpusNovus.
VANDA, Violin Concerto
17’00
The violin concerto – VANDA ‘Miss Joaquim’ is commissioned by the Ministry of Education. The title is borrowed from the national flower Vanda Miss Joaquim, which is named after the horticulturist Miss Agnes Joaquim. The title is also a
In the first movement, the idea of nature and horticulture infuses the musical thinking. Where the hybrid of two beautiful parent plants (possibly Vanda Teres and Vanda H.) yields the lovely Vanda Miss Joaquim; musically, the first and second themes are eventually fused together harmoniously. (The lyrical second theme, is also known as “Wynne’s Theme”.) The middle movement ‘Scherzo Cosmopolitan’ paints an image of the cosmopolitan city where an oasis of Jardin balances the skyscrapers and man-made structures. It is in fact a musical reference to the nickname ‘garden city’, synonymous with the sunny island. This ‘garden city’ passage serves as a tribute to the late LKY. The finale ‘A Renaissance’ sports a motoperpetuo rhythmic drive that creates an impression of bustling city life. A middle section of repose and reflection pares down to the solo violin’s cadenza that eventually picks up energy and momentum. In this performance, the soloist Kam Ning will perform her own cadenza. Programme note by Chen Zhangyi
World Premiere by SSO: 11 Aug 2018
K e lly Ta ng Sketches Of Singapore
9’00
Following on the heels of his earlier work, Symphonic Suite on a Set of Local Tunes (commissioned by the SSO in 2004), Tang’s Sketches of Singapore explores entirely new musical strategies in symphonising another set of four well-loved tunes. The work begins with the triumphantly energetic Stand Up for Singapore. Next, the folk tune Rasa Sayang is presented in the comic style of a scherzo. Cast in a passionate yet elegant orchestral glow, the deeply Romantic essence of the third tune, Where I Belong, is fully unveiled. In the grand finale, the venerable Di Tanjong Katong, is symphonically expanded, as never before, to radiate in all its innate glory. Programme note by Kelly Tang
PROGRAMME NOTES
Instrumentation 2 flutes 2 oboes 2 clarinets 2 bassoons 4 horns 2 trumpets 3 trombones tuba timpani tam-tam, triangle, bowed crotales, marimba, suspended cymbals, bass drum, glockenspiel, vibraphone harp strings
Sketches Of Singapore Instrumentation 2 flutes, piccolo oboe 2 clarinets bassoon contrabassoon 4 horns 3 trumpets 3 trombones tuba timpani xylophone, chimes, glockenspiel, snare drum, bass drum, sleigh bells, cymbals, triangle, suspended cymbal strings Commissioned and premiered by SSO: 8 Aug 2008, Nanyang Polytechnic Auditorium
WANG CHEN W EI (b. 198 8)
Wang Chenwei is Head of Research of the TENG Company, composition lecturer at the Singapore National Institute of Education, Tonmeister of msm-productions, as well as member of the Composers and Authors Society of Singapore (COMPASS) and the Composers Society of Singapore. Wang obtained his Magister Artium (five-year Master of Arts) with distinction and the Würdigungspreis (Honorary Award) from the Vienna University for Music and Performing Arts, where he studied Composition and Audio Engineering under the Singapore Media Development Authority’s scholarship. He is regularly commissioned to compose for the Ministry of Education, Singapore Chinese Orchestra and Taipei Chinese Orchestra. For his contributions, Wang was conferred the Young Outstanding Singaporean Award in 2011.
The Sisters’ Islands
13’00
The Sisters’ Islands is a symphonic poem inspired by a local legend of the Sisters’ Islands south of Singapore. The 15-minute piece features four sections:
Fishing Village: A strike of the gong opens the piece, introducing the peaceful tropical scenery of Singapore. After a short duet between the bamboo flute and bassoon, a horn solo introduces the deep and broad “sea” theme in the pelog pentatonic scale upon a backdrop of wave-like ornamentations in Indonesian Gamelan style. Next, the graceful “sisters” theme enters with the bamboo flute, representing the beautiful young Malay sisters Minah and Linah in an Asli dance. The music then proceeds into a lively Malay Zapin dance portraying the festivities in the village.
Raging Waves: Bass instruments play a transformed “sea” theme, while woodwind glissandi in octatonic scale and percussion effects depict the stormy sea. A struggling “sisters” theme emerges amidst the chaos as Minah swims after the pirates, until she is overcome by exhaustion and disappears amidst the raging waves. Linah struggles to break free of her captors and jumps into the sea to join her sister, represented by a violin solo fading into the depths. This tragedy incurs the wrath of the gods; thunder and lightning strike, and a giant orchestral wave engulfs the pirate ship. After a long timpani roll, calmness is restored.
Originally composed for the Singapore Chinese Orchestra by Wang Chenwei at age 17, The Sisters’ Islands won the Singapore Composer Award at the 2006 Singapore International Competition for Chinese Orchestra Composition and was subsequently featured on CD albums by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra and Taiwan Philharmonic Chinese Orchestra. The composer’s own adaptation for symphony orchestra was premiered by the Orchestra of the Music Makers (Singapore) at Esplanade Theatre on 25 August 2009 with the late President of Singapore Mr S. R. Nathan as the guest of honour. Programme note by Wang Chenwei
PROGRAMME NOTES
Capture of the Bride: Suddenly, a throng of pirates raids the village, illustrated by the menacing “pirates” theme in hexatonic scale played by the bass trombone. The captain, awestruck by Linah’s beauty, intends to abduct her as a bride. A weeping cor anglais solo implores the release of Linah but to no avail as she is dragged away, and a violin solo represents Minah stumbling into the sea to chase after the pirate ship.
Spirit of the Sea: In the morning, a conch (seashell) calls out for the sisters’ spirits to rest in peace, while an ocarina responds. The “sea” and “sisters” themes are recapitulated and finally played together in counterpoint, building up to a climatic ending as two islands emerge from the sea where the sisters drowned.
The Sisters’ Islands Instrumentation 3 flutes, 1 doubling on piccolo dizi, doubling on ocarina 2 oboes, cor anglais 2 clarinets bass clarinet 2 bassoons 4 horns 3 trumpets 3 trombones tuba timpani snare drum, bass drum, marimba, suspended cymbal, rebana, tambourine, 2 tam-tams harp strings 1 brass player doubling on the conch World Premiere: 25 Aug 2009 First performed by SSO: 11 Aug 2018
L IANG W ERN FOOK (b. 196 4)
An iconic singer-song writer of Singapore, Dr Liang Wern Fook was voted “Person Who Best Represents the Xinyao Spirit” in a public poll (2003). Liang is the only artist who has received both the Young Artist Award (Literature, 1992) and the prestigious Cultural Medallion (Music, 2010) across different arts genres. He has over 15 literature publications and 200 songs, two Mandarin musicals to his name. In the words of the late dramatist Kuo Pao Kun, Liang’s work “bridges music and literature in the Singapore’s arts scene”. With his cultural and artistic achievements, Liang has received the Nanyang Distinguished Alumni Award (2016).
S AMUE L TAN (b. 196 4) ar r ang e r
One of the pioneers of Xinyao, Samuel Tan has arranged over 200 songs, including about 160 Xinyao, from 1983-1990. He won the Sing Music Awards (新乐奖) for “Best Music Arrangement” in 1987 and 1988 and “Best Music Composition” in 1989.
In 2015, Tan wrote the theme song for the critically-acclaimed Xinyao documentary “The Song We Sang”.
“This is Singapore” Medley
5’00
(Excerpts from Liang Wern Fook Xinyao Medley, arr. SAMUEL TAN) This medley is an excerpt of an original arrangement by Samuel Tan which was commissioned and premiered by XYO-alumni of the Singapore Youth Orchestra 1980-1990, on the occasion of Singapore's Jubilee in 2015. It contains three upbeat and rhythmic “narrative”
麻雀衔竹枝》is a song inspired by a Cantonese folk tune taught to Liang by his father. This song was prominently featured as the title song in the Xinyao movie The Girl With The Pinafore. While the melody is carried by the clarinet, oboe, flute and trumpet, the folk tune can be heard chanting quietly in the background as counter-melody on the bassoon and the French horn. Throughout the song, pizzicato strings and woodblock provide the momentum, with sprinkling of playful woodwinds. The trumpet solo then kicks off 《新加 坡派》, accompanied by bowed strings in syncopated rhythm with snare drums and tambourine. Meanwhile, traces of patriotic national songs can be heard in the background – “We Are Singapore” on clarinets, “Count On Me, Singapore” on oboe solo, and “Stand Up for Singapore” on flutes. The upward modulation of key intensifies the music, with the melody now steered by trumpets and woodwinds, accompanied by robust string movements, lower brass support, and a great variety of percussion instruments. Meanwhile, the French horn section, in unison, weaves “Count On Me, Singapore”, as the orchestra builds up majestically to the grandiose version of《细水长流》, one of Liang's most loved songs. It then experiences in quick succession changes in tempo and rhythm – first to a waltz, with melody on unison strings, then to jazz, with “big band”-style brass ensemble
PROGRAMME NOTES
A holder of Licentiates of the Royal School of Music in violin and piano performing, Tan was winner of the Piano Open Section and Best Performer Award at the National Music Competition in 1981. He was also concertmaster of the NUS Concert Orchestra in the 1980s.
songs about life in Singapore and friendship – 《麻雀衔竹枝 (The Sparrow Song)》,《新加坡派 (Singapore Pie)》 and 《细水长流 (Friendship Forever)》– a distinctive genre of Liang Wern Fook.
and walking bass, before reaching full orchestral majesty, sustained by snare drums, triangle and cymbal rolls. This leads to the Coda with a sudden drop in volume and pick up of tempo, as the motifs of 从你回眸那天开始 (From the Day You Looked Back)》and 写一首歌 给你 (A Song for You) are heard in the trumpets and French horns respectively, in a climatic finale. Programme note by Samuel Tan
“This is Singapore” Medley Instrumentation 2 flutes oboe, cor anglais 2 clarinets 2 bassoons 4 horns 3 trumpets 3 trombones tuba timpani snare drum, triangle, bass drum, suspended cymbal, tambourine, wood block, glockenspiel strings World Premiere: 5 Jul 2015 First performed by SSO: 11 Aug 2018
Z UB IR S AID (19 07-19 87 )
Credit: Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
Best known as the composer of Singapore’s national anthem, Zubir Said was one of Singapore’s earliest Malay-language songwriters, believed to have written over 1,500 songs. A selftaught musician, Zubir moved from the Minangkabau highlands of Indonesia to Singapore in 1928, to work as a musician. He joined City Opera’s bangsawan (Malay opera) troupe as a violinist, eventually picking up the piano and becoming the band leader. In 1936, Zubir became a recording supervisor with His Master's Voice (HMV), and gained recognition in the music industry. From 1949, Zubir was Orchestra Conductor with Shaw Brothers’ flourishing Malay films division, and later Music Director for Cathay Keris from the early 1950s until his retirement in 1964. In 1958, at the request of the City Council of Singapore, Zubir wrote Majulah Singapura, after a motto displayed at the renovated Victoria Theatre. It was performed at the grand finale of a concert on 6 September 1958. Its popularity led to its nomination for a greater purpose – Majulah Singapura replaced God Save the Queen during “Loyalty Week” celebrations in 1959. On 9 August 1965, when Singapore gained full independence from Malaysia, Majulah Singapura was adopted as our national anthem.
PHOON YE W TIEN (b. 1952) ar r ang e r
Sama-sama maju ke hadapan Pandai cari pelajaran Jaga diri dalam kesihatan Serta sopan-santun dengan kawan-kawan. Dengan hati bersih serta suci Sama-sama hormat dan berbudi Jaga tingkah pemuda-pemudi Adat dan budaya junjung tinggi.
Semoga Bahagia
Kalau kita lengah serta lupa Hidup kita sia-sia Jiwa besar sihat serta segar Rajin dengan sabar tentu bahagia. Lemah lembut perangai pemudi Cergas tangkas wataknya pemuda Suka rela selalu berbakti Sikap yang pembela dan berjasa. Capailah nama yang mulia pemudipemuda Rajinlah supaya berjaya semoga bahagia. Together we progress onward Clever at seeking knowledge Take care of your health And be courteous to your friends.
4’00
(arr. PHOON YEW TIEN) Zubir’s other classic Semoga Bahagia (“May You Achieve Happiness”) encourages youth to uphold good character and values, in the pursuit of happiness and a respectable life. Since 1970, the song has been the official Children’s Day song in Singapore.
With a heart that is clean and pure Together we respect and do good Watch your behaviour, oh youths Customs and cultures, hold them high. Quickly reach your ambitions, oh youths So that we'll have our worth, in the eyes of the world.
PROGRAMME NOTES
Phoon won the prestigious Yoshiro Irino Memorial Prize for Composition, awarded by the Asian Composers League, one of the highest awards to be given to a young Asian composer. He has also received multiple awards from COMPASS for his contributions to the music industry. He was awarded the Cultural Medallion in 1996 by the National Arts Council, the highest award given in the field of the arts in Singapore. Phoon Yew Tien has served as an arts advisor to the National Arts Council from 1998 to 2008. In 2000 he was appointed to rearrange the Singapore National Anthem. In 2003, he was appointed as the Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s composer-inresidence and as resident composer of SCO from 2015 to 2016.
Capailah lekas cita-cita pemudi-pemuda Supaya kita ada harga di mata dunia.
If we are lazy and forgetful Our lives are for nothing A good soul, a healthy and fresh mind Hard work and patience, definitely brings happiness. Soft-spoken is the lady Energetic and tenacious is the man Charitable, always contributing Protecting and giving service. Attain a respectable position, oh youths Be hardworking so that you will succeed, may you achieve happiness.
Semoga Bahagia Instrumentation 2 flutes 2 oboes 2 clarinets 2 bassoons 3 horns timpani Malay drum Malay gong harp piano strings Premiere of new arrangement by SSO: 11 Aug 2018
S . JE S UDA S S AN (b. 193 0) In 1966, then a teacher at Raffles Institution (RI), S. Jesudassan was asked by the principal to write a song for students to be sung on RI’s Founder’s Day. Similar to Zubir Said’s Semoga Bahagia, the intent was to inspire youth to achieve success, in the context of a then newly independent Singapore. The Ministry of Education’s Music Director, David Lim, who was also Head of Music at RI, decided the following year to adopt Munnaeru Vaalibaa as one of the official community songs taught in every school, a tradition that continues today.
Munnaeru Vaalibaa
3’00
(arr. PHOON YEW TIEN) Munnaeru vaalibaa munaeri endrum Thoduvaan noakkuvaai Kann theriyaatha Kaari rulil Olirum vinmeenae Thanimaiyaalae payantha naadugal Irulil oli pera unnai naadum Mael noakku vaaliba endrum munnaeri Thoduvaan noakkuvaai thoduvaan noakkuvai
Come forward youths! Let us progress! Let us reach out for the sky.
DIC K L EE (b. 195 6)
You are the sparkling star that shines in the dark. Nations seek your guidance when in trouble. So, aim high and progress in life. You will reach the skies.
Premiere of new arrangement by SSO: 11 Aug 2018
Dick has collaborated with top Asian artistes like Sandy Lam and Japanese group Zoo, and written countless songs for singers in Asia including Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau, Sammi Cheng, Anita Mui, Miyazawa of the Boom and Stephanie Sun. The song he is proudest of writing is Home. Composed in 1997 and popularised by the singer Kit Chan, it is widely regarded as the one of the most beloved of Singapore’s national songs.
PROGRAMME NOTES
Instrumentation 2 flutes, piccolo 2 oboes 2 clarinets 2 bassoons 4 horns 2 trumpets 3 trombones tuba timpani bass drum, cymbals, tam-tam, tambourine, suspended cymbal, xylophone harp strings
The Dick Lee phenomenon started in 1971 when he participated in various talent contests with the groups Harmony, and Dick and the Gang. His first album, Life Story, featuring his own compositions, was released in 1974. Throughout the 70s and 80s, Dick championed the inclusion of Asian elements in pop music, as in his acclaimed albums Life In The Lion City (1984) and The Mad Chinaman (1989), the latter which achieved platinum status in Singapore for three months.
Home
3’00
(arr. KELLY TANG) Whenever I am feeling low I look around me and I know There’s a place that will stay within me Wherever I may choose to go I will always recall the city Know every street and shore Sail down the river which brings us life Winding through my Singapore This is home truly, where I know I must be Where my dreams wait for me, where the river always flows This is home surely, as my senses tell me This is where I won’t be alone, for this is where I know it’s home When there are troubles to go through We’ll find a way to start anew There is comfort in the knowledge That home’s about its people too So we’ll build our dreams together Just like we’ve done before Just like the river which brings us life There’ll always be Singapore This is home truly, where I know I must be Where my dreams wait for me, where the river always flows This is home surely, as my senses tell me This is where I won’t be alone, for this is where I know it’s home For this is where I know it’s home For this is where I know I’m home
Instrumentation 2 flutes, 1 doubling on piccolo oboe, cor anglais 2 clarinets bassoon 4 horns 2 trumpets 3 trombones timpani suspended cymbal, chimes, glockenspiel, wind chime, cymbals, xylophone harp strings World Premiere: 9 Aug 1998 (as sung by Kit Chan) First performed by SSO: 11 Aug 2018 (arr. Kelly Tang)
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