SSO NATIONAL DAY CONCERT 10 AUGUST 2019 ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL Performing Home of the SSO
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Jeremy Monteiro, TamaGoh, Joshua Tan, Darrell Ang, Singapore Symphony Choruses
14 - T R AC K D I G I T A L- O N LY A L B U M R el eas e d w o rl dwi de o n 2 A ug 2 0 1 9 on a ll di gital pl a tf o rm s, T ru ly , S S O r e imag ine s all - ti m e N a ti o n a l D a y c las s ics w it h a fr e s h, m o de rn spi n . A he a r t fe lt g ift t o a ll S in gaporeans a t h o m e a n d ov e r s e as , in ho no ur of th e bi c e n te n n i a l ce le b r at io ns an d in c onjunc ti o n wi th Si n ga po r e ' s 5 4 t h b ir t hd ay . DOWNLOAD NOW: WM SG . L N K. T O /T R UL Y S S O
“ Recording these brilliant and ingenious arrangements of tunes that I grew up with was such a revelation and joy ” - SSO ASSOCIAT E CONDUCT OR JOSHUA T AN
SSO National Day Concert 10 Aug 2019, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall
Singapore Symphony Orchestra Joshua Tan conductor Jeremy Monteiro Jazz Trio Jeremy Monteiro piano Tamagoh drums Christy Smith bass Samuel Phua soprano saxophone Nawaz Mirajkar tabla V M Sai Akileshwar mridangam Joanna Dong jazz vocalist Singapore Symphony Chorus and Youth Choir* Eudenice Palaruan choral director Khairudin Saharom emcee Janis Wong sign language interpreter
Raffles March (World Premiere) by A. DIETZ (arr. Bertram Wee)
3 mins
March (Colonial Days) from Singapore, Symphonic Suite for Large Orchestra by TSAO CHIEH
5 mins
MONTAGE Concerto for Jazz Piano & Orchestra by KELLY TANG
23 mins
Intermission
20 mins
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Jewel of Srivijaya (World Premiere) for Mridangam, Tabla and Orchestra by TONY MAKAROME
7 mins
Kampong Overture (World Premiere) by LEE JINJUN
7 mins
The Awakening from Singapore Song Series III by LAM CHAO PHANG (arr. Leong Yoon Pin)
3 mins
March On – A Medley of NS Songs* (World Premiere) by various composers (arr. Phoon Yew Tien)
6 mins
Voices from the Heart by TAN KIAN CHIN & BOK SEK YIENG (arr. Kelly Tang)
2 mins
Our Singapore Dream* (World Premiere) by LEE JINJUN
5 mins
Home* by DICK LEE (arr. Kelly Tang)
4 mins
Concert duration: 1 hr 50 mins
For the enjoyment of all patrons during the concert: - Please switch off or silence all electronic devices. - Please minimise noises during performance. If unavoidable, wait for a loud section in the music. - No photography, video or audio recording is allowed when artistes are performing. - Non-flash photography is allowed during bows and applause. Go green. Digital programme books are available on www.sso.org.sg. Photographs and videos will be taken at these events, in which you may appear. These may be published on the SSO’s publicity channels and materials. By attending the event, you consent to the use of these photographs and videos for the foregoing purposes. 2
SINGAPORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
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. 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. Under the Music Directorship of Lan Shui from 1997 to January 2019, 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
Orchestral playing at the peak of refinement and beauty Fanfare London received critical acclaim in the major UK newspapers The Guardian and Telegraph. The SSO has also performed in China on multiple occasions. In July 2019, the SSO named Austrian conductor Hans Graf as its Chief Conductor designate, beginning in the 2020/21 concert season. Notable SSO releases under BIS include a Rachmaninoff 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, Gustavo Dudamel, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Diana Damrau, Martha Argerich, Lang Lang, Yo-Yo Ma, Janine Jansen, Leonidas Kavakos and Gil Shaham. The SSO is part of the Singapore Symphony Group, which also manages the Singapore Symphony Choruses, and the Singapore National Youth Orchestra. The mission of the Group is to create memorable shared experiences with music. Through the SSO and its affiliate performing groups, we spread the love for music, nurture talent and enrich Singapore’s diverse communities.
Joshua has conducted orchestras all around the world, in countries such as Singapore, China, Japan, Taiwan, Macau, Russia, Germany, and America. These orchestras include the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, Beethoven Bonn Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, amongst others. He has studied with various eminent conductors such as James DePreist, Charles Dutoit, David Zinman and Kurt Masur. A versatile conductor, Joshua is at home with both symphonic and operatic works. His substantial repertoire for opera includes La Traviata, Rigoletto, Der Fliegende Holländer, Lohengrin, Carmen, Don Giovanni, Madama Butterfly, Così fan tutte, and Turandot, among others. He has also served as cover conductor for Christoph Eschenbach and Lorin Maazel. He is also equally adept with ballet productions and music for film/ multimedia.
JOSHUA TAN conductor Second Prize winner of the 2008 Dimitri Mitropoulos International Competition, Singaporean conductor Joshua Kangming Tan’s rise to prominence on the international scene has been marked by successful debuts in Carnegie Hall, Philharmonie Berlin, Mariinsky Hall and Bunkamura.
Joshua is presently Associate Conductor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Principal Conductor of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra and Director of the Asia Virtuosi. He has served successful stints as Resident Conductor of the National Centre for the Performing Arts (China) Orchestra, and as Principal Conductor of the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra.
A graduate of The Juilliard School and the Eastman School of Music (High Distinction), he is an awardee of numerous scholarships and awards, such as the Young Artist Award, Singapore (2011), Bruno Walter Memorial Foundation Award, NAC-Shell Scholarship, and the SSO/MOE Scholarship. 6
JEREMY MONTEIRO piano Dubbed “Singapore’s King of Swing”, Cultural Medallion recipient Jeremy Monteiro has garnered critical acclaim all over the world since helping to put Singapore in the world of jazz in 1988, when he became the first Southeast Asian to lead a band of established international jazz musicians on the main stage of the Montreux Jazz Festival, performing as “Monteiro, Young & Holt and Friends.” Jeremy has performed/recorded with the likes of James Moody, Michael Brecker, Bobby McFerrin, Lee Ritenour, Herbie Mann, Paulinho DaCosta, Ernie Watts, Charlie Haden, Carmen Bradford, Matt Monro, Toots Thielemans and Simon & Garfunkel, to name a few. He has also played on the main stages of the EFG London Jazz Festival and is the only Southeast Asian jazz musician to have an album on the iconic Verve record label, “Jeremy Monteiro & Alberto Marsico – Jazz-Blues Brothers.” His latest album, “Yesterday Once More – A Jazz Tribute to The Carpenters” was released in September 2018.
In 2016, he established the Jazz Association (Singapore) (JASS) to bring jazz all over Singapore. In May 2017, Jeremy led JASS as Music Director, debuting the very first Lion City Youth Jazz Festival, an annual bandstand learning programme returning in September 2020. Today, Jeremy continues to bring jazz to all corners of Singapore, and Singapore jazz all around the world. September 2019 will see his upcoming project “Jeremy Monteiro and Friends: Overjoyed – A Jazz Tribute to the Music of Stevie Wonder” debut, in collaboration with Esplanade.
Since 2012, he has served as the International Arts Ambassador for EFG Bank, sponsor of the EFG London Jazz Festival. Jeremy is also a founder of the Composers & Authors Society of Singapore (COMPASS). 7
TAMAGOH drums Tamagoh has performed with the Jeremy Monteiro Jazz Band since 1989, in Japan, Moscow, U.S.A, Canada and New Zealand, with Terumasa Hino, Carmen Bradford, James Moody and Eldee Young. He has toured with pop artistes Ronan Keating, Frances Yip, Eric Moo, Coco Lee, Anthony Lun, Sarah Brightman, and Sandy Lam.
he has had the honour of performing with the China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra as a featured artiste. Together with Jazz legends Jon Faddis, Paquito D’Rivera, Roy Hargrove, Russel Malone, Renee Rosnes, Dennis Mackrel, Jeremy Monteiro, Jon Hendricks, and Todd Coolman, Tamagoh was part of James Moody’s Scholarship Fund Concert in New York City’s B. B. Kings Bar and Grill in 2008.
Tamagoh has participated at the London Jazz Festival 2010, Edinburgh Art Festival and Wellington Arts Festival 2004. Besides playing in the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Singapore Chinese Orchestra,
In 2017, Tamagoh performed with the Vocal Associates Festival Chorus at Carnegie Hall. 8
CHRISTY SMITH bass Billy Higgins, Ernie Watts, Don Cherry, Ed Blackwell, Harold Land and many others.
Christy Smith is a professional international musician, bassist, band leader, arranger, composer and teacher.
Christy has been based in Singapore since 1993, performing with many of the regional artists such as Jeremy Monteiro, Michael Veerapen, Lewis Pragasam, Sheila Majid and many more. He has become an important role model for aspiring musicians in the region through his teachings. Next to performing in the region, he is teaching double bass and bass guitar at United World South East Asia and LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore.
Christy Smith has performed at well-known Jazz festivals in Asia like the Singapore and Kuala Lumpur International Jazz Festivals. He is a graduate of California State Fullerton in music performance. He has had several years of orchestral and big band experience, having been under the baton of Aaron Copland, Keith Clark, Carmen Dragon, Pat Williams and Mercer Ellington. Christy has also worked and performed with artists such as Stevie Wonder, Sarah Vaughn, Fela Kuti, 9
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Orchestra, Orchestra of the Music Makers, The Philharmonic Winds and Singapore Wind Symphony. As a chamber musician, Samuel co-founded the Xin Saxophone Quartet and was the Artistic Director of the Protégé Saxophone Ensemble (2015–2017). He is in the artistic committee for the Helsinki Saxophone Orchestra. He has been a regular performer at the annual Singapore Saxophone Symposium since its inception in 2011.
SAMUEL PHUA saxophone Saxophonist Samuel Phua is a recipient of the National Arts Council Arts Scholarship (undergraduate) 2017 and is furthering his studies at the Sibelius Academy with Joonatan Rautiola. He graduated with the International Baccalaureate Career Certificate (IBCC) from the School Of The Arts (SOTA), Singapore, where he studied classical music under Leslie Wong and jazz under Fabian Lim.
Samuel has represented Singapore at numerous international music events, including the World Saxophone Congress 2018 in Croatia, Eugene Rousseau Saxophone Workshop in Wisconsin, USA, Elite Project Workshop by Jean Marie Londeix and William Street and Asia Pacific Saxophone Academy in Thailand. He was also featured in the OKTO documentary ‘Under 18’ shown in Singapore.
Samuel has performed as a soloist with several of Singapore’s top orchestras and bands, including the Singapore Symphony 12
NAWAZ MIRAJKAR tabla Born in 1976, in Pune, India, Nawaz Mirajkar hails from a proud lineage of musicians. Being the grandson of renowned and legendary tabla Maestro Ustad Mehboob Khan Mirajkar, Nawaz began playing the tabla under the tutelage of his father Ustad Mohammad Hanif Khan Mirajkar from a very young age. Nawaz completed his music degree and went on to join the Temple of Fine Arts, Singapore in 1996.
Although classically trained, Nawaz’s versatility as a musician and composer has resulted in forays into contemporary fusion music, collaborating with many renowned artistes from around the world and performing at many world-class festivals both local and international. Nawaz hopes to bring the art of the tabla and percussions to greater heights by continuing to re-invent and experiment while keeping the traditions alive.
In 2001, Nawaz received a Guiness World record for carrying out a non-stop drumming marathon for over 27 hours. He was also awarded the prestigious Young Artist Award (Music) by the National Arts Council for his significant contribution to the Singapore arts scene in 2011.
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V M SAI AKILESHWAR mridangam
arranging, his new love is to spread the art of konakkol (art of performing percussive syllables vocally).
A fine and versatile performer, Akilesh is a highly sought-after percussionist, not confined to the Indian Classical paradigm. His sound has been described by critics as being a pleasing blend of virtuosity and aesthetics. His approach to performance highlights the tonal nuances of the mridangam (South Indian percussion instrument) while being rooted in the polyrhythmic tradition of Indian percussion. Akilesh has represented Singapore regionally in numerous festivals and conferences namely ANMC Bangkok 2010, Asem V Kuala Lumpur 2012 and “roots and traditions” Manila 2017. Apart from composing and
Akilesh has worked/collaborated with international artistes such as Guy Manoukian, Paul Erhard, Rakesh Chaurasia and U Rajesh. He has also worked with prominent local groups such as SA, Nadi Singapura and is part of Varsha, his IndoJazz fusion outfit that consists of his brother Vignesh, Dr Tony Makarome and Mohamed Noor. He was awarded National Arts Council’s Postgraduate Scholarship for the year 2012, and has completed his Masters in Indian rhythms. 14
JOANNA DONG jazz vocalist Joanna Dong is a Singaporean jazz vocalist, musical theatre actress and TV host. Over the years, the versatile singer has established herself as one of the most talented and sought-after jazz vocalists in Singapore, with a repertoire that spans a wide range of audiences. A graduate with an Honours Degree in Sociology from the National University of Singapore, Joanna is strongly bilingual and very passionate about sharing her love for jazz with Mandarin speaking audiences.
the popular Chinese singing competition. She has since released three singles: a jazzy rendition of Wakin Chau’s classic “I Truly Give My Love To You”; her first Mandarin Christmas single, “In Time For Snow”, an original creation by local music greats, Liang Wern Fook and Jeremy Monteiro; and in March 2018, her heartsong and an original piece by Ruth Ling & Chen Jia Ming, “Long Way Round”.
Apart from her love for singing, multitalented Joanna was also recognised in other fields, such as winning the Best Supporting Actress in the ST Life! Theatre Awards in 2008, the Star Hunter Award at the 14th Shanghai International Film Festival in 2011, nominee for best female host at the Macau Rainbow TV awards in 2016 and in 2019, she won the award for Best Entertainment Hostess at the 4th Asia Rainbow TV Awards.
After her hugely successful 2-day 我 是 “So Here I Am” concert at the Esplanade Concert Hall, she followed up with her 我是 “So Here I Am” EP digital release and Asia Tour through 7 different cities.
Joanna became the pride of Singapore after a stellar performance at Sing! China, coming in 2nd runner up under Jay Chou’s team in 15
World Youth Choir and the Berlin Spandauer Kantorei. He was also involved in early music performance practice as a countertenor with the Berlin Monteverdi Choir in Germany and the Villancico Vocal Ensemble at the International Bamboo Organ Festival in the Philippines. As a conductor he was a music director of the Ateneo de Manila College Glee Club, assistant choirmaster of the Philippine Madrigal Singers under Andrea Veneracion, principal conductor of the San Miguel Master Chorale and the Union Church of Manila Chancel Choir. For the past years, he was the resident conductor of the International Bamboo Organ Festival where he directed Philippines’ leading choirs in the performance of early European music and the revival of Latin American baroque music.
EUDENICE PALARUAN choral director
As a composer and arranger, Palaruan writes contest pieces for choral competitions including the 2019 Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Competition in Manila. His composition style uses vocal tapestry by incorporating Asian speech sounds. Some of his widely used works are Gapas (Harvest), Koyu No Tebulul (Bird Song), Pasigin (Fishing Song). As a music pedagogue, he taught at the Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music, 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.
Eudenice Palaruan studied composition and conducting at the University of the Philippines College of Music and trained under Dr Joel Navarro, Dr Ramon Santos and Prof. Andrea Veneracion. After obtaining his Bachelor Degree in the Philippines, he studied choral conducting at the Berliner Kirchenmusikschule – Germany under Prof. Martin Behrmann. He was a member and baritone soloist of some of the significant choral organisations including the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Ateneo de Manila College Glee Club, the 16
SINGAPORE SYMPHONY CHORUS Eudenice Palaruan choral director Shane Thio rehearsal pianist Since its first performance on 13 June 1980 under the direction of then SSO Music Director Choo Hoey, the 85-strong Singapore Symphony Chorus has become one of the finest symphony choruses in the region. The chorus has performed under the baton of renowned conductors Peter Erdei, Eric Ericsson, John Nelson, Claus Peter Flor, Okko Kamu, Lan Shui, Lim Yau, Masaaki Suzuki and most recently, Sofi Jeannin in the SSO Baroque Festival in 2018. Having amassed a wide repertoire, the SSC has performed such works as Rachmaninoff’s The Bells, Tippett’s A Child of Our Time, 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.
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SINGAPORE SYMPHONY YOUTH CHOIR Wong Lai Foon choirmaster Evelyn Handrisanto rehearsal pianist Comprised of Singapore’s finest young choristers aged 17 to 28, the Singapore Symphony Youth Choir is an energetic ensemble inaugurated in 2016 to complement the SSO with a chorus of vibrant voices. Exploring the best of different musical worlds and styles, the youth choir has performed Scriabin’s Prometheus, Puccini’s La Bohème, as well as recorded Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances and Mahler’s Symphony No. 2. In 2017, it also toured with the SSC and SSO, presenting Brahms’ Shicksalslied at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas in Kuala Lumpur. In the 2018/19 season, the youth choir performed independently for the first time, under the baton of esteemed conductor Eímear Noone.
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The Chorus SOPRANO Karen Aw Michelle Chan Chin Li Han Nia Edwards Beatrice Decruz Laura Lee
Ng Beng Choo Chloe Ong Sarah Santhana Desiree Seng Samyukta Sounderraman Sun Yinglun
Tan Carine Tan Li Szu Tan Yuqing Stacey Wang Espera
ALTO Päivi Aalto Serene Cheong Patricia Chong Mavis Chua Martha Fernandez Elizabeth Goh Maria Erika Goh Evelyn Lee
Dorothy Lee-Teh Wendy Lim Lin Wei Denise Liu Kerris Loh Sharon Low Eunice Ng-Chee Jemaima Pagsibigan
Ananya Ravi Elaine Ser Elsie Tan Tan Li En Tan Yulin Toh Yan Ee Abigail Yeo Ariel Yeong
TENOR Jean-Michel Bardin Jason Carranceja David Cho Chin Han Chng Margaret Devadason
Norman Lee Zachary Lim Loh Shao Wei Jeroven Marquez Oh Chin Aik
Ronald Ooi Qi Jian Ian Tan Ben Wong Caleb Yeo
BASS Ang Jian Zhong Marcus Chan William Chua Winsen Citra
Arthur Davis Amir Hamzah Joseph Kennedy Aaron Koh
Jon Loh Brandon Tan Daniel Elias Teo
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ONLY THE FINEST MUSIC
SECOND VIOLIN Michael Loh Associate Principal Hai-Won Kwok Fixed Chair Chan Si Ning^ Kong Xianlong Nikolai Koval* Lee Shi Mei^ Priscilla Neo^ Chikako Sasaki* Margit Saur Shao Tao Tao Wu Man Yun* Xu Jue Yi* Ye Lin* Yeo Teow Meng Yin Shu Zhan* Zhang Si Jing* Zhao Tian*
The Orchestra JOSHUA TAN Associate Conductor ANDREW LITTON Principal Guest Conductor CHOO HOEY Conductor Emeritus LAN SHUI Conductor Laureate
VIOLA
EUDENICE PALARUAN Choral Director
Zhang Manchin Principal Guan Qi Associate Principal Gu Bing Jie* Fixed Chair Marietta Ku Luo Biao Julia Park Shui Bing Janice Tsai Wang Dandan Yang Shi Li
WONG LAI FOON Choirmaster
FIRST VIOLIN 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 Karen Tan William Tan Wei Zhe
CELLO Ng Pei-Sian Principal Yu Jing Associate Principal Guo Hao Fixed Chair Chan Wei Shing Jamshid Saydikarimov Song Woon Teng Wang Yan Wang Zihao* Wu Dai Dai Zhao Yu Er DOUBLE BASS Yang Zheng Yi Associate Principal Karen Yeo Fixed Chair Olga Alexandrova 22
HORN
Jacek Mirucki Guennadi Mouzyka Wang Xu
Han Chang Chou Principal Gao Jian Associate Principal Jamie Hersch Associate Principal Marc-Antoine Robillard Associate Principal Hoang Van Hoc
FLUTE Jin Ta Principal Evgueni Brokmiller Associate Principal Roberto Alvarez Miao Shanshan
Roberto Alvarez Assistant Principal
TRUMPET 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
BASS TROMBONE
Elaine Yeo Associate Principal
TUBA
CLARINET
Brett Stemple^
Ma Yue Principal Li Xin Associate Principal Liu Yoko Tang Xiao Ping
TIMPANI Christian Schiøler Principal Jonathan Fox Associate Principal
BASS CLARINET
PERCUSSION
Tang Xiao Ping Assistant Principal
Jonathan Fox Principal Mark Suter Associate Principal Mario Choo Lim Meng Keh Lim Xing Hong^
BASSOON Wang Xiaoke Principal Liu Chang Associate Principal Cheung King Lun^ Christoph Wichert Zhao Ying Xue
HARP Gulnara Mashurova Principal
CONTRABASSOON Zhao Ying Xue Assistant Principal
*With deep appreciation to the Rin Collection for their generous loan of string instruments. 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 Organization 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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THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING SSO NATIONAL DAY CONCERT
You may also like MOONRISE & AURORA
Come back to the Esplanade at the end of the month to witness a celestial spectacle: two films, one dedicated to the moon, the other a journey under the northern lights, accompanied by live music from the SSO.
PRESIDENT’S YOUNG PERFORMERS CONCERT
The internationally award-winning young Singaporean guitarist Kevin Loh is the star at this year’s President’s Young Performers Concert, and he will present to you and the President the evocative guitar favourite, the Concierto de Aranjuez.
30 Aug 2019 Esplanade Concert Hall
27 Sep 2019 Victoria Concert Hall
José Francisco Salgado, presenter Robin Fountain, conductor Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Kevin Loh, guitar Joshua Tan, conductor Singapore Symphony Orchestra
KAHCHUN WONG & KARL-HEINZ SCHÜTZ
See for yourself the conducting mastery of trail-blazing Singaporean maestro Kahchun Wong, who returns to lead the SSO, accompanying the Vienna Phil’s Principal Flutist Karl-Heinz Schütz in a programme of Romantic gems.
SSO CHRISTMAS CONCERT AT THE ESPLANADE
The annual and always popular SSO Christmas Concert brings its glittering yuletide joy to the Esplanade Concert Hall this year. Book early to avoid missing out!
19 Oct 2019 Esplanade Concert Hall
12 & 13 Dec 2019 Esplanade Concert Hall
Kahchun Wong, conductor Karl-Heinz Schütz, flute Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Joshua Tan, conductor Singapore Symphony Choruses Singapore Symphony Orchestra
2019/20 Season Patrons Our story began four decades ago when we played our first concert in January 1979. This journey would not have been possible without patrons who believe in sharing the gift of music. Thank you for your generosity.
PATRON SPONSOR Tote Board Group (Tote Board, Singapore Pools & Singapore Turf Club)
MAESTRO CIRCLE Mr & Mrs Goh Yew Lin Temasek Foundation
CONCERTMASTER CIRCLE Butterfield Trust Christopher & Rosy Ho
SYMPHONY CIRCLE Aquilus Pte Ltd GK Goh Holdings John Swire & Sons (S.E. Asia) Pte Ltd Lee Foundation NSL Ltd Santa Lucia Asset Management Pte Ltd Singapore Press Holdings Ltd Mr Hsin Yeh & Family Anonymous
CONCERTO CIRCLE European Union Delegation to Singapore Far East Organization Holywell Foundation Limited Keppel Corporation Maisy Koh & Dr Beh Swan Gin Kris Foundation
Mr & Mrs Eugene Lai Clarinda & Christopher Martin Christina Ong Paige Parker & Jim Rogers United Overseas Bank Ltd Anonymous
OVERTURE PATRONS Aonia Strategic Events Odile & Douglas Benjamin BinjaiTree Bunli Holdings Lito & Kim Camacho Prof Cham Tao Soon Prof Chan Heng Chee Chan Wing Cheng Cara & Tamara Chang Chng Hak-Peng Mr & Mrs Choo Chiau Beng Dr Geh Min Goh Swee Chen Ho Ching Hong Leong Foundation Judy Hunt JCCI Singapore Foundation Ltd Dr André Klein Lee Li-Ming Leong Wai Leng Liew Wei Li Mavis Lim Geck Chin Lin Diaan-Yi
Marina Bay Sands Devika & Sanjiv Misra Kai S. Nargolwala Nomura Asset Management Singapore Ltd One North Capital Pte Ltd David Ong Eng Hui Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore Pte Ltd Prima Limited Saga Tree Capital Advisors Pte Ltd Dr Gralf Sieghold Sinfonia Ristorante Andreas & Doris Sohmen-Pao Stephen Riady’s Group of Foundations Irene Tedja Total Trading Asia Pte Ltd TransTechnology Pte Ltd V3 Group Djafar Widjaja Geoffrey & Ai Ai Wong Peter C. Y. Wong Yong Ying-I Dr Thomas & Mrs Mary Zuellig Anonymous (5)
SERENADE PATRONS Chang Hwee Nee Angela Huang & Geo Chen Peter Chen Kwan Da Simon Cheong Chip Eng Seng Group Lionel Choi Hartley Clay Prof Arnoud De Meyer Warren Fernandez Goh Sze Wei Heinrich Grafe Steven & Liwen Holmes Colin Lee Lee Kok Keong
Leong Wah Kheong Soledad & Edgardo Mune nTan Corporate Advisory Pte Ltd Dr Eddy Ooi Jenny Pan Doreen & Elbert Pattijn Robin Ian Rawlings Dr June & Peter Sheren Ron & Janet Stride Dr Tan Chin Nam Tan Sook Yee Tang See Chim Manju & Arudra Vangal David Harris Zemans
RHAPSODY PATRONS Prof Kanti Bajpai Clemente & Juliana Benelli Jerry Gwee Peggy Kek Edmund Koh K C Lorinne Kon Aditi Krishnakumar Kwan Meng Hui Mr & Mrs Patterson Lau Dr Lee Shu Yen Gilbert Leong Adam & Brittany Levinson Brian Lo
Mr & Mrs Willem Mark Nabarro Dr Dang Vu & Ms Oanh Nguyen Lisa & Hervé Pauze Robert Khan & Co Pte Ltd Dr Alban Salord Tibor Zoltan Szabady Andrew Tan Eric Wong Mr & Mrs Wong Nang Jang Dr Yeo Ning Hong Yeong Poh Yee Anonymous (5)
PRELUDE PATRONS Aznan Bin Abu Bakar Aloha Dental Pte Ltd Dr Brenda Ang Dennis Au Jocelyn Aw Lawrence & Celeste Basapa John & Eliza Bittleston Alicia Thian & Brian Bonde Bryan Carmichael Brendan Hannigan & Maria Carvalho Darren Yong & Connie Chaird Cham Gee Len Pauline Chan & Jean Nasr Chan Ah Khim Vivian Chandran Dr Koh Chee Kang & Ms Chang Ting Lee Winston Kwek & Valerie Cheah Dr Cynthia Chee Dr Peter Chew Dr Faith Chia Pamela Chong Serene Chua Su Ling Sally Chy Rosa Daniel Arthur Davis Mark & Jennifer Dembitz Maureen Derooij Elizabeth Fong G & L Surgical Pte Ltd Gan Chee Yen Michael Goh Vivien Goh Heart Partners Clinic Dr Guy J P Hentsch Mr & Mrs Simon Ip Khoo Boon Hui Khor Cheng Kian Belinda Koh Yuh Ling Lau Soo Lui Lee Miew Boey Dr Norman Lee
Dr Lee Suan Yew Willy Lee Liak Wee Lek Lee Yong Dr Leong Keng Hong Wendy Leong Marnyi Alvin & Christina Liew Charmaine Lim Edith & Sean Lim Janet Lim Hong Eng Candice Ling Ling Yu Fei Tony & Serene Liok Low Boon Hon Gillian & Kurt Metzger Izumi Miyake Monique Ong Quek Boon Hui Winifred Dente Degli Scrovegni Caroline Seow Retno Setyaningsih Naoyoshi Nick Shimoda Susan Sim Lee Koon Tan Cheng Guan Gordon H L Tan Ivan Tan Meng Cheng Tan Kok Kiong Tan Soo Nan Tan Yee Deng Daniel Tando Tang Li Ping Teo Chun-Wai, Benedict Eddie Teo Teo Ee Peng Nicole Wang Remes Andrew & Sybil Wong Wicky Wong Wu Guowei Ivan Yeo Dr Yip Teem Wing Yong Seow Kin Anonymous (10)
This list reflects donations that were made from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019. We would like to express our sincere thanks to donors whose names were inadvertently left out at print time. The Singapore Symphony Group is a charity and a not-for-profit organisation. Singapore tax-payers may qualify for 250% tax deduction for donations above $50. You can support us by donating at www.sso.org.sg/donate.
PATRON BENEFITS Our donors are precious to us. As a valued patron of the SSO, you will receive many benefits. If you would like to make a gift towards your orchestra today, please visit www.sso.org.sg/donate, write to us at sharing_music@sso.org.sg or speak to Chelsea Zhao at +65 6663 4251.
PATRON CATEGORIES (updated on 18 April 2019) PRELUDE
RHAPSODY
SERENADE
OVERTURE
CONCERTO CIRCLE
$1,000 - $2,499
$2,500 - $4,999
$5,000 - $9,999
$10,000 - $24,999
$25,000 AND ABOVE
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conductor
lu shao-chia baritone
peter sidhom symphonia choralis orchestra of the music makers
r icha r d str a uss
also sprach zarathustra willia m wa lton
belshazzar s feast
Esplanade Concert Hall 17 august 2019
7:30 PM
Programme Notes RAFFLES MARCH (1915) (World Premiere) by A. DIETZ (arr. Bertram Wee) “There will be a special orchestral concert at Raffles Hotel tomorrow evening at 9.45, when the following programme will be given under the direction of Signor Silvio Tagliapietra: -- Raffles March (Orchestra), Dietz; Nocturne (Quartette), Tschaikowsky …” – The Straits Times, 12 September, 1922.
that exists of it in present times – until now. Tonight’s performance of the Raffles March is the world premiere of its new orchestration by Singaporean composer/pianist Bertram Wee (b. 1992). He describes the Raffles March as having “many of the characteristics present in an archetypical military march: it opens with arresting fanfare figurations, follows a typical march and trio format, and even has a dramatic tutta forza ‘break strain’ passage that precedes the finale. In maintaining the historical profile of the music I opted to emulate the wind-heavy military band sound characteristic of such marches, supporting this with the warmth availed by a full string section.”
Other than the fact that he was the Director of the Orchestra at Raffles Hotel and had a wife named Felicia, little is known about A. Dietz, not even his first name. He wrote the Raffles March in 1915 and dedicated it to Tigran Sarkie (1861-1912), manager of the Raffles Hotel from 1892 until his death in 1912. Tigran was one of the four Sarkies Brothers, the Armenian proprietors of the Eastern & Oriental in Penang. In the decades surrounding the turn of the 19th century, they opened a chain of luxury hotels throughout Southeast Asia, including the Raffles Hotel in 1887.
Tonight, we seek not just to revive the work for 21st century Singapore, but also to reimagine how it would sound like with a full symphony orchestra, as a musical showcase of how Singapore’s arts legacy has grown in the last 100 years.
In 2017 – more than a century after its composition – Christoph Wichert, bassoonist of the SSO, uncovered the score of the Raffles March in The National Library, Singapore, following a lead from a local teacher and musicologist. The six pages of music, written or reduced for piano, is headed by the dedication in French, “À MONSIEUR T. SARKIES”.
Programme note by SSO / Chia Han-Leon
Instrumentation 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, snare drum, cymbals, triangle, strings
While we do know that the work was performed in 1922, this piano version is all 33
TSAO CHIEH (1953–1996) Singaporean composer Tsao Chieh (Mandarin: 曹 ) first studied the piano under pioneer piano teacher Victor Doggett. An engineer by training, Tsao Chieh studied in Manchester, England and Stanford University under scholarships awarded by Singapore’s Ministry of Defence. During his studies, he also pursued composition in a bid to achieve his most cherished ambition – to write music. His Four Songs from Romantic Poets eventually won him First Prize in the Paul and Jean Hanna Music Competition. On his return from Stanford in 1985, Tsao Chieh continued his career at MINDEF, and later joined Sembawang Corporation (present day SembCorp Industries), where he helped established one of Singapore’s pioneer ISPs, Pacific Internet. He continued to write for orchestra as well as electronic mediums, and had plans to write an opera based on the legend of Bukit Merah, when he was diagnosed with cancer. Tsao Chieh died in 1996, aged 42.
March (Colonial Days) from Singapore, Symphonic Suite for Large Orchestra (1985) Tsao Chieh’s largest orchestral work, Singapore, Symphonic Suite for Large Orchestra, was completed in 1985 and subsequently performed at the Singapore Arts Festival by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in 1986. The idea for a work depicting the history of Singapore came as early as 1982. It was inspired by C.M. Turnbull’s A History of Singapore 18191975. Singapore, Symphonic Suite for Large Orchestra depicts five historical scenes from the days of Temasek to the founding of the Republic. Each movement is modelled after a certain musical archetype – Prelude and Fugue, March, Scherzo, Passacaglia, and Finale, and has programmatic subtitles describing the appropriate period in Singapore’s history.
Stylistically, the work is eclectic, drawing upon everything from Romantic symphony to aleatoric techniques. It is scored for large orchestra, consisting of triple woodwind, three trumpets, four horns, three trombones, tuba, piano, harp, strings and an extensive percussion section which includes instruments like the glockenspiel, chimes, vibraphone, and a water gong. The first movement depicts pre-modern Singapore during her Malay fishing village era, coloured by the legends of Sang Nila Utama. This is followed by the second movement, performed tonight. A straightforward March, it is meant to evoke the pomp and circumstance of colonial days. A leaping, strutting tune in G with
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occasional “wrong note� harmonies leads into a lyrical middle section which is in turn, sentimental and melancholy. The first tune returns, leading again into the lyrical section which now takes the form of a grandiose peroration to the movement. In the complete suite, the March is followed by a Scherzo (War), Passacaglia (The Aftermath) and a nationalistic Finale (The Republic). Tsao Chieh (adapted by SSO)
Instrumentation 3 flutes, 1 doubling on piccolo, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets, E-flat clarinet doubling on bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, cymbals, suspended cymbal, triangle, chimes, bass drum, harp, strings First performed by SSO Singapore Arts Festival 1986
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KELLY TANG (b. 1961) 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.
MONTAGE: Concerto for Jazz Piano & Orchestra (2015) Conceived as a concerto for solo Jazz piano and orchestra, “Montage” was commissioned by conductor Tsung Yeh for the gala opening of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra’s 2010 concert season, featuring Jazz pianist Jeremy Monteiro. Subsequently, Tsung, Monteiro and the SCO performed Montage to audiences across Shanghai, Nanjing and Suzhou during their 2014 concert tour of China, and also to a fullhouse audience at the Dewan Filharmonik (Kuala Lumpur) in 2015.
elements, and featuring a diverse mix of instrumental colours. The second movement is a contemplative ballad blending Baroque and Jazz harmonies. Originally featuring a duet between solo erhu and Jazz piano, the Western symphonic re-scoring presents a poignant musical pas de deux between solo soprano saxophone and pianist. The violins and clarinets provide the orchestral countermelody for this movement. Montage closes with a celebratory third movement reminiscent of the festive atmosphere of the mardi gras and Jamaican Calypso music. The pianist engages in improvisatory dialogues with the bassist, drummer and orchestral instruments. The movement concludes with a tribute to Rhapsody In Blue – the progenitor of all Jazz piano concertos.
In 2015, maestro Chan Tze Law commissioned the re-scoring of Montage for Western symphony orchestra. This was premiered by Jeremy Monteiro and the Orchestra of the Music Makers at the Esplanade on 7 March 2015. The first movement of Montage is driven by forward-moving rhythmic groove, infusing Jazz harmonies with traditional Chinese tonal
Montage is dedicated to Jazz pianist Jeremy Monteiro, in celebration of his 50th 36
Birthday in 2010. In the final movement, one might hear the motifs of the “Happy Birthday� tune in a brief interlude after the intense exchanges of improvisatory solos – signalling the return of the main theme. Programme note by Kelly Tang
Instrumentation flute, piccolo, 2 clarinets, soprano saxophone, bassoon, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, gong, small gong, tam-tam, suspended cymbal, strings World Premiere 7 March 2015 First performed by SSO 10 Aug 2019
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TONY MAKAROME (b. 1960) Composer, conductor, and bassist Tony Makarome is an Associate Professor at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (NUS). His educational achievements include a D.M.A. (Orchestral Conducting) from USC and a B.M. (Composition) from Berklee College of Music. He is currently a mridangam student of Guru Chettiharaveetil Haridas Sreekanth (Singapore Indian Fine Art Society). He was assistant conductor of the Columbia Lyric Opera (South Carolina), and music director of the NUS Wind Symphony. His recent premieres include Rain Konnakkol (2018) in Baltimore, What Pattern? (2016) in New York City, Scifi Lounge (2006) in Bangkok and Name with No Street in Shanghai. As a bassist, he performed with Louis Bellson, Tony Bennett, and Quartet West amongst others.
Jewel of Srivijaya, for Mridangam, Tabla and Orchestra (World Premiere) This piece was inspired by a dream I once had about living in Singapore during the era when she was a part of the Srivijaya Empire, which controlled much of Southeast Asia from the 7th to 12th centuries.
We begin with a melody in the Gambhira Nattai raga (tonal mode), a popular pentatonic scale often employed in invocational compositions like a Mallari, which is a type of religious processional music and usually performed on the nadaswaram, a South Indian double reed wind instrument. This sets the scene for the mridangam and tabla to then showcase their own distinctive styles through how they accompany the main theme “sung” by the orchestra. The middle section features a contrasting theme set in a raga that is better known to Western classical listeners as the natural minor scale (Aeolian mode).
I imagined that there was probably a very strong musical influence from India and attempted to capture this flavour when composing this piece. The listener will be treated to melodic and improvisational elements that derive from classical Indian Carnatic music as well as rhythmic and phrasing devices widely used in mridangam and tabla performance practice. This piece represents my humble attempt to blend Indian classical music with the Western orchestra medium in a way that is enjoyable to listeners familiar with either or both musical traditions.
I modelled the overall musical structure and interactions between the individual voices of the mridangam, tabla and the orchestra after the jugalbandi (literally “entwined 38
Instrumentation 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 1st doubling on cornet, crotales, vibraphone, tiger gong, tom-tom, snare drums, bass drum, splash cymbals, rain stick, almglocken, mark tree, strings
twins�), which is a type of performance in Indian musical practice where two soloists of equal stature and presence are showcased over a common underlying musical texture. Examples of famous combinations in this tradition include the pairing of the violin and sarod (as in the case of Lalgudi G. Jayaraman and Amjadh Ali Khan), and the mridangam and tabla (Patri Satish Kumar and Zakir Hussain). In this context, it’s also important to point out to the casual listener that while the mridangam and tabla are both instruments of Indian origin, they originated from, and continue to be used in, two distinctly different Indian musical traditions – Carnatic and Hindustani respectively. In spite of this, a commonality in both traditions is that their performers are always required to improvise and embellish at specific points within a set musical framework, and so in the same vein, every performance of this piece will be different depending on the improvisations of the two soloists. However, towards the end of the piece there is a short percussion solo section (Thani Avarthanam) that is fully written out, an ironic twist to this improvisational tradition and a tribute to my mridangam gurus! Programme note by Tony Makarome
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LEE JINJUN (b. 1990) Lee Jinjun is an award-winning composer, and active trumpeter and musical mentor. His music has been performed in countries such as Singapore, China, USA, Belgium, Germany and Spain. Recently, his Autumnal Fireworks clinched First Prize at the Singapore International Band Festival Composition Competition. In 2014, What Does the Future Hold? won First Prize at the World Projects Composition Contest, and was premiered at the Walt Disney Concert Hall at the 2015 Los Angeles International Music Festival. Jinjun was commissioned by the Ministry of Education to write the concert band set pieces for the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation 2019. Other commissions include works for Timothy Reynish, Royal Northern College of Music, SMRT Corporation and the Orchestra of the Music Makers.
Kampong Overture (World Premiere) Czech composer Dvorák was famous for melding folk elements into the symphonic form, creating music that sounds nostalgic and genuine, qualities that made him one of the most popular folk-inspired composers of the 19th century. Kampong Overture takes a page from Dvorák by using three Malay folk tunes, Geylang Sipaku Geylang, Lengkang Kangkung and Suriram, and weaving them into a Romantic-styled symphonic overture. Programme note by Lee Jinjun
Instrumentation flute, piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, strings
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The Awakening from Singapore Song Series III by LAM CHAO PHANG (arr. Leong Yoon Pin) The pioneering 1984 Mandarin period drama, The Awakening ( 洋– “Wu Suo Nan Yang” translation: “The fog enshrouds the south seas”), holds a special place amongst many Singaporeans. Not only is it one of the earliest produced in the history of Singapore television, its success comprised many dimensions: it was immensely popular from the start, its emotional depth had few parallels in Singapore, and it propelled veteran local actors Xiang Yun and the late Huang Wenyong (1952–2013) to fame. Its opening theme song has attained classic status, a sorrowful tune that many viewers still fondly remember, often with a tear.
heartache, with sunlit hope faintly shining only in the final lines. Leong Yoon Pin (1931–2011) is regarded as the father of Singaporean composers. For his pioneering contributions to Singapore music, he was awarded the Cultural Medallion in 1982. Programme note by SSO / Chia Han-Leon
Instrumentation 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, suspended cymbal, strings
The Awakening was produced by the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (precursor of Mediacorp) to commemorate Singapore’s 25th National Day celebrations. Unfolding over two series, the story tells of the experiences of the Chinese in Singapore, from the first generation of immigrants, to the tumult of the Japanese occupation in World War II, and Singapore’s Independence. The music was composed by Lam Chao Phang ( 兆庞), with the lyrics written in part by Liang Liren (梁 人) who also co-created the series. They sing of the many vicissitudes of life, drawing parallels between a journey through the fog-ridden South China Sea (i.e. Nanyang, referenced in the Mandarin title 洋) and the search for a new home, far away from one’s ancestral roots. The powerful melody of sorrow and yearning is resonant with 41
March On – A Medley of NS Songs (World Premiere) by various composers (arr. Phoon Yew Tien) This arrangement for a symphony orchestra with mixed choir consists of three well-loved Singaporean NS songs; namely, We the People of Singapore (by Leong Yoon Pin), Singapore Our Homeland (by Johnson Lee) and Believe in Me Singapore ( 信我吧 新加坡, by Raymond Lam).
Instrumentation 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, snare drum, bass drum, glockenspiel, cymbals, tam-tam, vibraphone, suspended cymbal, harp, strings
The music begins with a soft and gentle introduction with a fragment of the melody from Believe in Me Singapore, which subsequently leads to the upbeat and majestic NS songs/marches of We the People of Singapore and Singapore Our Homeland, before reaching its climax in Believe in Me Singapore. Phoon Yew Tien (b. 1952) is a multiaward-winning Singaporean composer and a recipient of the Cultural Medallion in 1996. He was appointed to rearrange the Singapore National Anthem in 2000. Programme note adapted by SSO
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March On We the people of Singapore Having come here from every shore Finding it every joy and hope As this our very home Love it with all our heart Serve it with all our might Guarding it with our very lives Our motherland Singapore
Guarding for our safety Preserving our heritage To the course we’re dedicated And in peace we shall live To the course we’re dedicated And in peace we shall live
Hail the colours of Singapore Proudly we stand to you Hail the hope of the crescent moon And virtues of shining stars Love it with all our heart Serve it with all our might Guarding it with our very lives Our motherland Singapore
有
是满
有
是
我是年
卫国军 热情
信我吧
力充
我
用
新加坡 力
与新加坡 我
把敌人消灭 信我吧
Singapore our homeland This is where we belong Singapore is worth defending United we’ll be strong Guardians of our country Protectors of our land Fearing nothing Shielding all Defending Singapore Love it with all our heart Serve it with all our might Guarding it with our very lives Our motherland Singapore
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新加坡
Voices from the Heart (2008) by TAN KIAN CHIN & BOK SEK YIENG (arr. Kelly Tang) This orchestration of “Voices from the Heart” was commissioned by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra for its 2008 May Day Concert at the Esplanade. The scoring seeks to draw out fresh orchestral colours and weave intricate harmonisations around the tune that would re-frame the beauty of this well-loved and resonant melody in a vibrant new way.
Instrumentation flute, oboe, 2 clarinets, bassoon 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, tuba, timpani, chimes, glockenspiel, wind chime, suspended cymbal, harp, strings
Programme note by Kelly Tang
Our Singapore Dream (World Premiere) by LEE JINJUN We Are Singapore, Count on Me Singapore and One People, One Nation, One Singapore are three classic national day theme songs from Singapore’s younger days. Our Singapore Dream combines them in a lush dreamy medley that contemplates what it means to be a Singaporean today after reflecting upon all the previous decades of progress as a nation.
We can achieve we can achieve Count on me Singapore One Nation One People One Singapore That’s the way that we will be forever more Every creed and every race Has it’s role and has it’s place One People One Nation One Singapore
Programme note by Lee Jinjun
We are Singapore We will stand together hear the lion roar This is my country this is my flag This is my future this is my life This is my family these are my friends We are Singapore Singaporeans
This is my family These are my friends We are Singapore Singaporeans
You and me will do our part Stand together heart to heart We’re going to show the world what Singapore can be 44
Instrumentation flute, piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, glockenspiel, triangle, suspended cymbal, harp, strings
DICK LEE (b. 1956) 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. 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 one of the most beloved of Singapore’s national songs.
HOME* (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
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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
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
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
World Premiere 9 Aug 1998 (as sung by Kit Chan) First performed by SSO 11 Aug 2018 (arr. Kelly Tang)
For this is where I know it’s home For this is where I know I’m home
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2019/20 Season
ORGAN
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CHAMBER
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PIPES DE DEUX 4 NOV, 12.30PM Evelyn Lim, organ Joanna Paul, organ
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