Performance Highlights
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CITY OF DREAMS: A SYMPHONIC SUITE FOR WIND ORCHESTRA
CITY OF DREAMS (A Symphonic Suite for Wind Orchestra) was commissioned by the Band Director’s Association (Singapore) for its 20th Anniversary celebration concert. This three-movement work aims to symbolise and celebrate our on-going vibrant band scene; and at the same time not forgetting our past, our history.
I. Fanfare ‘Awakening of Dawn’
The fanfare begins with the motivic idea from the *opening of the late Mr Leong Yoon Pin’s ‘Daybreak and Sunrise’, Singapore’s first commissioned SYF Indoor Band Central Judging 1992 set piece. An important milestone work in Singapore’s band history, the motif is used as the main melodic material for this opening movement to signify the start of our Singaporean dreams.
II. Intermezzo ‘Remembrance’
The Intermezzo is written in remembrance of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew who initiated the ‘Band Project’ in 1966 for both Primary and Secondary Schools.
This movement opens with sounds of the rain when Singapore had its first National Day Parade in 1966. The familiar opening phrase of our National Anthem ‘Majulah Singapura’ is heard in chorale-style before a solo trumpet introduces the main theme of the movement using the first four notes of the anthem. An off-stage bugler (trumpet) plays a fragment of the ‘Last Post’, paying tribute to the life of the late Mr Lee. The composition then develops further with a lyrical ballad by a solo euphonium, an instrument played by our Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong when he was in the Catholic High School band. This act as a symbolic musical gesture representing our Prime Minister’s continued role of leading the nation forward even after the passing of the late Mr Lee.
As the movement progresses to the end, a motif from the *Malaysia’s anthem is heard which is immediately followed by the familiar ‘Majulah Singapura’ fanfare, reminding us of our separation with Malaysia in 1965. The ‘Majulah’ chorale returns and is followed by 5 strikes on the tubular bells representing our 50 years of independence, before the off-stage bugler plays the opening of the ‘Rouse’, an important symbolic ‘call back to duties’ usually played in military funeral/remembrance services after the ‘Last Post’. The sounds of the rain returns, this time reminding us of the day the nation sent the late Mr Lee off on his final journey. The movement finally closes with three notes on the tubular bells, ‘B-D-A’ signing off this tribute by the Band Directors’ Association (BDA).
III. March ‘Riding That Rainbow’
A distant approaching drumbeat is heard emerging from the closure of the tribute from the previous movement – the onward march of our nation. Snippets of familiar motives are heard throughout the march highlighting parts of our Singapore band story. This march aims show our vibrant and energetic band scene as we look towards a promising future!
CITY OF DREAMS (A Symphonic Suite for Wind Orchestra) was commissioned by the Band Director’s Association (Singapore) for its 20th Anniversary celebration concert. This three-movement work aims to symbolise and celebrate our on-going vibrant band scene; and at the same time not forgetting our past, our history.
I. Fanfare ‘Awakening of Dawn’
The fanfare begins with the motivic idea from the *opening of the late Mr Leong Yoon Pin’s ‘Daybreak and Sunrise’, Singapore’s first commissioned SYF Indoor Band Central Judging 1992 set piece. An important milestone work in Singapore’s band history, the motif is used as the main melodic material for this opening movement to signify the start of our Singaporean dreams.
II. Intermezzo ‘Remembrance’
The Intermezzo is written in remembrance of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew who initiated the ‘Band Project’ in 1966 for both Primary and Secondary Schools.
This movement opens with sounds of the rain when Singapore had its first National Day Parade in 1966. The familiar opening phrase of our National Anthem ‘Majulah Singapura’ is heard in chorale-style before a solo trumpet introduces the main theme of the movement using the first four notes of the anthem. An off-stage bugler (trumpet) plays a fragment of the ‘Last Post’, paying tribute to the life of the late Mr Lee. The composition then develops further with a lyrical ballad by a solo euphonium, an instrument played by our Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong when he was in the Catholic High School band. This act as a symbolic musical gesture representing our Prime Minister’s continued role of leading the nation forward even after the passing of the late Mr Lee.
As the movement progresses to the end, a motif from the *Malaysia’s anthem is heard which is immediately followed by the familiar ‘Majulah Singapura’ fanfare, reminding us of our separation with Malaysia in 1965. The ‘Majulah’ chorale returns and is followed by 5 strikes on the tubular bells representing our 50 years of independence, before the off-stage bugler plays the opening of the ‘Rouse’, an important symbolic ‘call back to duties’ usually played in military funeral/remembrance services after the ‘Last Post’. The sounds of the rain returns, this time reminding us of the day the nation sent the late Mr Lee off on his final journey. The movement finally closes with three notes on the tubular bells, ‘B-D-A’ signing off this tribute by the Band Directors’ Association (BDA).
III. March ‘Riding That Rainbow’
A distant approaching drumbeat is heard emerging from the closure of the tribute from the previous movement – the onward march of our nation. Snippets of familiar motives are heard throughout the march highlighting parts of our Singapore band story. This march aims show our vibrant and energetic band scene as we look towards a promising future!
Performed by the Singapore Armed Forces Central Band at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore and conducted by ME4 Ignatius Wang.
FLIGHT: ADVENTURE IN THE SKY
FLIGHT is a programmatic piece of work that describes a young pilot’s adventure up in the air. Written in six short movements, his journey begins as he takes flight from the ground. The start of jet engine can be heard as the propellers spin and lift the plane into the sky for an exciting adventure. The inevitable turbulence destabilizes the jet as the young pilot fought for his balance. The challenge did not cease when it was compounded by the approaching storm that hindered not only his stability but also his vision. The struggle however was offset by the spectacular view aloft of the cascading mountain ranges after the storm. The breath-taking landscape left him a sense of reluctance to return as he faces the reality to land!
FLIGHT is a programmatic piece of work that describes a young pilot’s adventure up in the air. Written in six short movements, his journey begins as he takes flight from the ground. The start of jet engine can be heard as the propellers spin and lift the plane into the sky for an exciting adventure. The inevitable turbulence destabilizes the jet as the young pilot fought for his balance. The challenge did not cease when it was compounded by the approaching storm that hindered not only his stability but also his vision. The struggle however was offset by the spectacular view aloft of the cascading mountain ranges after the storm. The breath-taking landscape left him a sense of reluctance to return as he faces the reality to land!
Performed by a Japanese Wind Orchestra
(Please let me know if you know the name of this ensemble and the conductor!)
(Please let me know if you know the name of this ensemble and the conductor!)
THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP
THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP (A Ballad from the Heart) was commissioned by and dedicated to West Winds, band of the Bukit Batok Community Club, Singapore for their 25th Anniversary Celebration concert 2018.
Filled with reminiscence and memories, this lyrical ballad is a musical tribute to the beauty of ‘Friendship’. The music opens with the manual winding of the music box ready to tell its musical story, just like the old countdown running film-strip sounds before the commencement of a movie. This music box returns towards the end of the work with a suspense created by an incomplete musical phrase, signifying an unending friendship we all hope to achieve. The ballad then ‘closes off’ with the (re)winding of the music box to keep the music alive - a gesture of an everlasting friendship.
The bond between friends is an important and meaningful part of our lives - many times shaping who we are and how we live each day. I hope this work will serve as a suitable musical accompaniment with a tinge of warmth as performers and audiences playback their personal life stories.
THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP (A Ballad from the Heart) was commissioned by and dedicated to West Winds, band of the Bukit Batok Community Club, Singapore for their 25th Anniversary Celebration concert 2018.
Filled with reminiscence and memories, this lyrical ballad is a musical tribute to the beauty of ‘Friendship’. The music opens with the manual winding of the music box ready to tell its musical story, just like the old countdown running film-strip sounds before the commencement of a movie. This music box returns towards the end of the work with a suspense created by an incomplete musical phrase, signifying an unending friendship we all hope to achieve. The ballad then ‘closes off’ with the (re)winding of the music box to keep the music alive - a gesture of an everlasting friendship.
The bond between friends is an important and meaningful part of our lives - many times shaping who we are and how we live each day. I hope this work will serve as a suitable musical accompaniment with a tinge of warmth as performers and audiences playback their personal life stories.
Performed by the West Winds, Singapore at the Esplanade Concert Hall, conducted by ME6 Philip Tng
FUTURE OF TOMORROW (Concert March)
This concert march (available for both wind and brass bands) is commissioned by the Arts Education Branch of the Ministry of Education as the set piece for the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation for Concert and Brass Bands (Primary Level) 2016. Although written at Grade 2, the music actually sounds more advanced than this grade level. The march uses brief excerpts from well-known Malay folk songs, Katak Lompat and Rasa Sayang as a sectional theme by itself and a bridging motif respectively.
Our youths are indeed our future of tomorrow. This joyful-themed march aims to bring out the best in each of the young players and is hoped that students, band directors and audiences will enjoy preparing, performing and listening to the work.
This concert march (available for both wind and brass bands) is commissioned by the Arts Education Branch of the Ministry of Education as the set piece for the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation for Concert and Brass Bands (Primary Level) 2016. Although written at Grade 2, the music actually sounds more advanced than this grade level. The march uses brief excerpts from well-known Malay folk songs, Katak Lompat and Rasa Sayang as a sectional theme by itself and a bridging motif respectively.
Our youths are indeed our future of tomorrow. This joyful-themed march aims to bring out the best in each of the young players and is hoped that students, band directors and audiences will enjoy preparing, performing and listening to the work.
British-style Brass Band Version | Recording session with the Lion City Brass Band at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music Concert Hall, Singapore.
REDHILL: A SYMPHONIC FOLKLORE FOR WIND ORCHESTRA
REDHILL was commissioned by the Singapore Wind Symphony for their Taiwan Tour Concert 2014. It received its world premiere on 25 April 2014 at the Pingzhen City Social Education Culture Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan under the musical direction of Mr. Adrian Tan. Redhill is a programmatic work based on one of Singapore’s most well-known legends:
A long time ago, the southern coast of Singapore was infested by numerous fierce swordfish. The villagers and fishermen could not ply their trades at the sea, as they would be attacked by these fearsome creatures if they ever ventured near the waters. The people requested help from the Sultan, but even him and his royal army could not do anything about it. A little boy then proposed a solution to the Sultan – to build a row of barricade made of banana tree trunks along the affected coast. When the swordfish tried to attack the villagers again, their pointed beaks would pierce through the barricade and would be trapped immediately. The plan worked perfectly, and the smart boy became popular among the villagers as their saviour. This invited jealousy from the Sultan. Fearing his rule would be threatened in the future, he sent his soldiers to kill the boy who lived on top of a hill. As the poor boy died, his blood flew down the hill, soaking the whole hill red.
The work is made up of six continuous episodes – ‘The Redhill’, ‘Village of Peace’, ‘Battle of the Sea’, ‘The Village Boy’, ‘The Vicious King’ and ‘Finale’. After the majestic opening in ‘The Redhill’, the ‘Village of Peace’ brings us into the sedateness and misty quality of the Indonesian (Javanese) Gamelan sound-world. This section features the solo piccolo/flute representing the Suling (an end-blown bamboo flute) accompanied by the soft mallet percussion and gong in the background. The music then moves into an ominous setting preparing for the ‘Battle of the Sea’ in which much tension and instability is heightened by the use of irregular rhythmic displacement and meters. The following lyrical section highlights the youth and innocence of ‘The Village Boy’, featuring an oboe solo, accompanied by the piano. This calm is then disturbed by ‘The Vicious King’ with the reprise of the ominous atmosphere before the musical momentum takes off again towards the final section of the work. The ‘Finale’ brings back the oboe theme heard earlier but now performed by the full ensemble in a grandioso style, paying their final tribute to the ill-fated boy who saved the lives of the villagers!
REDHILL was commissioned by the Singapore Wind Symphony for their Taiwan Tour Concert 2014. It received its world premiere on 25 April 2014 at the Pingzhen City Social Education Culture Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan under the musical direction of Mr. Adrian Tan. Redhill is a programmatic work based on one of Singapore’s most well-known legends:
A long time ago, the southern coast of Singapore was infested by numerous fierce swordfish. The villagers and fishermen could not ply their trades at the sea, as they would be attacked by these fearsome creatures if they ever ventured near the waters. The people requested help from the Sultan, but even him and his royal army could not do anything about it. A little boy then proposed a solution to the Sultan – to build a row of barricade made of banana tree trunks along the affected coast. When the swordfish tried to attack the villagers again, their pointed beaks would pierce through the barricade and would be trapped immediately. The plan worked perfectly, and the smart boy became popular among the villagers as their saviour. This invited jealousy from the Sultan. Fearing his rule would be threatened in the future, he sent his soldiers to kill the boy who lived on top of a hill. As the poor boy died, his blood flew down the hill, soaking the whole hill red.
The work is made up of six continuous episodes – ‘The Redhill’, ‘Village of Peace’, ‘Battle of the Sea’, ‘The Village Boy’, ‘The Vicious King’ and ‘Finale’. After the majestic opening in ‘The Redhill’, the ‘Village of Peace’ brings us into the sedateness and misty quality of the Indonesian (Javanese) Gamelan sound-world. This section features the solo piccolo/flute representing the Suling (an end-blown bamboo flute) accompanied by the soft mallet percussion and gong in the background. The music then moves into an ominous setting preparing for the ‘Battle of the Sea’ in which much tension and instability is heightened by the use of irregular rhythmic displacement and meters. The following lyrical section highlights the youth and innocence of ‘The Village Boy’, featuring an oboe solo, accompanied by the piano. This calm is then disturbed by ‘The Vicious King’ with the reprise of the ominous atmosphere before the musical momentum takes off again towards the final section of the work. The ‘Finale’ brings back the oboe theme heard earlier but now performed by the full ensemble in a grandioso style, paying their final tribute to the ill-fated boy who saved the lives of the villagers!
Performed by the West Winds at School of the Arts, Singapore and conducted by the composer.
CHOPSUEY! Scherzo for Clarinet & Wind Ensemble
Commissioned by the Singapore Wind Symphony for John Bruce Yeh, Assistant Principal Clarinetist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
CHOPSUEY! is a scherzo ('joke') with a whirlwind of musical clichés that bring to mind the heritage of America, elements of Chinese culture and also music written for the versatile Clarinet, beloved in many musical genres. Many absurd stereotypes are really like "Chopsuey" - a dish made popular by Chinese takeaways all over America but in fact does not exist in Chinese cuisine at all, ironically, making it very American indeed. I hope that when listeners giggle at the recognisable bits, they remember that stereotypes are often false representations of reality. While we may all be guilty of them from time to time, they should be taken with a healthy pinch of salt so that we can enjoy, with open hearts and minds, the wonders and experiences that the infinite variety of nations, places, cultures and music can bring to our lives.
Commissioned by the Singapore Wind Symphony for John Bruce Yeh, Assistant Principal Clarinetist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
CHOPSUEY! is a scherzo ('joke') with a whirlwind of musical clichés that bring to mind the heritage of America, elements of Chinese culture and also music written for the versatile Clarinet, beloved in many musical genres. Many absurd stereotypes are really like "Chopsuey" - a dish made popular by Chinese takeaways all over America but in fact does not exist in Chinese cuisine at all, ironically, making it very American indeed. I hope that when listeners giggle at the recognisable bits, they remember that stereotypes are often false representations of reality. While we may all be guilty of them from time to time, they should be taken with a healthy pinch of salt so that we can enjoy, with open hearts and minds, the wonders and experiences that the infinite variety of nations, places, cultures and music can bring to our lives.
Performed by the Singapore Wind Symphony at School of the Arts, Singapore, featuring soloist John Bruce Yeh and conductor Mr Adrian Tan.