SSO National Day Concert 2020

S S O NATI ON AL DAY C ONC E RT A NATION IN HARMONY 15 AUGUST 2020 WATCH THE STREAM ONLIN E ON S I S T I C L I V E

M OZAR T & S T RA V I N S KY : M U S I C O N T HE A I R SAT 29 AUG 2020 8PM

W AT CH THE S TR EA M ONL INE ON S IS TIC L IVE

SI N GAPO R E S Y M P H O N Y O R CH E STRA HAN S GR A F C H I E F C O N D UCT OR

Mozart inspired an endless legacy of composers after him, including Stravinsky - who called himself “Mozart’s Continuer”.

Join us in this online concert as we return to the Esplanade Concert Hall to play a plethora of pieces in neo-classical tradition. Be inspired by the muses of Apollo and enjoy the merriment of a Mozartian serenade.

M O Z AR T A D A GI O A N D F U G U E IN C M INOR, K.546 S T R AV I N S K Y APO L L O S T R AV I N S K Y OC T E T M O Z AR T S E R E NA D E I N E - FLAT , K.375

TIC KETS FR OM $10

SSO NA TION AL DAY CO N C E R T A NATION IN HARMONY 15 Aug 2020, 8pm (Online premiere on SISTIC Live) Viewable from 15-29 Aug with valid tickets.

Singapore Symphony Orchestra Darrell Ang conductor Benjamin Kheng artist1 Kshirja Govind Bharatanatyam dancer2 Khairudin Saharom master of ceremonies Janis Wong sign language interpreter New Beginnings (World Premiere)

by SANDRA LIM

5 mins

Metro (Asian Premiere)

by TAN YUTING

7 mins

City Arising (World Premiere)

by JONATHAN SHIN

5 mins

Brahman: Kannagi’s Realization2 (World Premiere)

by JOHN SHARPLEY

6 mins

Home3

by DICK LEE (arr. Kelly Tang)

3 mins

Count On Me, Singapore1

by HUGH HARRISON (arr. Stan Kružík) Video directed by Eric Wong

4 mins

Majulah Singapura (Reorchestrated by Kelly Tang, 2020 - World Premiere)

by ZUBIR SAID

4 mins

Concert Duration: 1 hr 3 The concert video of Home was recorded during the SSO National Day Concert 2018.

Please see programme note for performer credits.

Participate in our survey for a chance to win complimentary tickets to our upcoming online concerts. www.surveymonkey.com/r/VFXNSDL

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, as well as outreach and community performances take place at the 673seat Victoria Concert Hall, the home of the SSO. The orchestra performs over 60 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 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 London received critical acclaim in the major UK newspapers The Guardian and The Telegraph. The SSO has also performed in China on multiple occasions.

Orchestral playing at the peak of refinement and beauty In the 2020/21 concert season, the SSO welcomes renowned maestro Hans Graf as its Chief Conductor.

Notable SSO releases on the BIS label include a Rachmaninoff series, a “Seascapes” album, three Debussy discs “La Mer”, “Jeux” and “Nocturnes”, 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 affiliated performing groups, we spread the love for music, nurture talent and enrich our diverse communities.

Fanfare

SSO NATIONAL DAY C ONC ER T | 15 AUG 2 0 2 0

Orchestra, China National Symphony Orchestra and the Prague Chamber Orchestra.

One of Asia’s most sought-after conductors, Ang’s growing operatic profile includes performances of Don Giovanni and Rigoletto at the Mariinsky Theatre, Carmen at Estonian National Opera, Mozart operas in Bordeaux and Toulon, and Wagner in Singapore.

Born in Singapore, Ang studied composition with Leong Yoon Pin before studying in St. Petersburg with Leonid Korchmar, and Yale with Shinik Hahm. He became the Young Associate Conductor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (2008–2013) under the guidance of 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 in 2007, leading to the Music Directorship of the Orchestre Symphonique de Bretagne (2012–2015). With support from the Allianz Cultural Foundation, he took on residencies with the London Philharmonic and Philharmonia Orchestra, under the tutelage of Lorin Maazel and Esa-Pekka Salonen.

DARRELL ANG conductor Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of The Sichuan Orchestra of China (Sichuan Symphony), Grammy-nominated Darrell Ang last year opened the London Philharmonic’s season at Eastbourne, conducted Paris’s Orchestre de Lamoureux at the Théâtre du Champs-Elysées and made his debut with the Japan Philharmonic. In addition, he conducted Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra and released several recordings on the Naxos label to rave reviews. Recent appearances include with The Haydn Orchestra of Bolzano and Trento, Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, Mariinsky Orchestra, NHK Symphony 4

S S O N A T I O N AL DAY C ONC ER T | 15 A U G 2020

B EN J A M I N K H E N G artist Benjamin Kheng is a Singaporean musician, actor, host, writer and former national swimmer. © MATTY CHONG

In 2012, he made his debut into the industry as one of the founding members of popular local pop-quartet – The Sam Willows. The group has performed globally at the SXSW Festival in Austin, the Canadian Music Festival in Toronto, MU:CON and Zandari Festa in Seoul, the Singapore F1 Grand Prix 2013 & 2014, and the Western Australian Music Festival in Perth.

of 600 million tuning in from around the region. As part of The Sam Willows, Benjamin was named in the 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list.

Benjamin’s acting work has included roles such as Romeo in Romeo & Juliet (Toy Factory) and recruit Ken Chow in the musical adaptation of local movie blockbuster Ah Boys To Men (Running Into The Sun).

In November 2019, he officially returned to music after a year-long break with the release of his first solo single ‘Wicked’. The song draws upon gospel, rock, and musical theatre for inspiration, markedly contrasting to Kheng’s previous work with The Sam Willows. In February 2020, Benjamin released his sophomore single ‘Find Me’.

An advocate for youth and social causes, Benjamin has also been invited to speak at TEDxYouth@Singapore to share his experience in overcoming depression and anxiety disorder with synaesthesia.

Benjamin performed solo to a live audience of 50,000 at the SEA Games Opening Ceremony with an estimated viewership 5

SSO NATIONAL DAY C ONC ER T | 15 AUG 2 0 2 0

Her recent performances include solo Bharatanatyam performances at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha for this year’s Ilamayil Thirumai Series and at RK Swami Auditorium as part of Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha’s Margazhi Season. In 2019, she took part in a collaborative performance of Bharatanatyam and Chinese Hokkien Opera at the Chulalongkorn Asian Heritage Forum, Thailand. In 2018, Kshirja did a charitable dance performance that raised money for the flood-stricken victims of Kerala, India. In the same year, she represented the Indian community of Singapore at the Singapore National Day celebrations in Hanoi, Vietnam.

KSHIRJA GOVIND Bharatanatyam dancer Kshirja Govind is a Singapore-based dancer and has been learning the Indian Classical Dance form Bharatanatyam in the Kalakshetra style for over 11 years now. She is learning under Guru P. N. Vikas at Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFAS). She has had the privilege of learning with Upadhye School of Dance as well as Guru Sanjit Lal and was awarded the “Natyavisharad” on completion of her Dance Diploma at SIFAS in 2018. She is also a company dancer with Apsaras Arts, who are the recipients of The Stewards of Singapore’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Award.

Her many awards include Best Performer at Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha (119th Year-Dance Festival) in February 2019, Prize Winner at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2018, Singapore and the Future Face title at the India International Dance Festival in Bhubaneswar, 2017. In addition, you can see Kshirja’s fusion performances on the Vasantham channel.

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Tote Board’s goal is to help build a

flourishing society. We want to inspire positive change and contribute towards building an inclusive, resilient and vibrant community, while fostering a caring and compassionate nation.

As a broad-based grantmaking organisation, Tote Board works closely with stakeholders and partners to support broad and diverse worthy projects in the sectors of Arts & Culture, Community Development, Education, Health, Social Service and Sports. Through these projects, Tote Board helps to uplift the community by giving hope to vulnerable groups and improving the lives of all in Singapore.

ToteBoardSG ToteBoardSG

www.toteboard.gov.sg

SEC O N D V IOL IN

T HE ORC HE S T R A

Michael Loh Associate Principal Hai-Won Kwok Fixed Chair Nikolai Koval* Chikako Sasaki* Margit Saur Shao Tao Tao Wu Man Yun* Xu Jue Yi* Yeo Teow Meng Yin Shu Zhan* Zhao Tian*

HANS GRAF Chief Conductor JOSHUA TAN Associate Conductor ANDREW LITTON Principal Guest Conductor

VIO L A

CHOO HOEY Conductor Emeritus

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

LAN SHUI Conductor Laureate EUDENICE PALARUAN Choral Director WONG LAI FOON Choirmaster

C EL L O Ng Pei-Sian Principal, The HEAD Foundation Chair 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

FIRS T VI OL I N Kong Zhao Hui# Associate Concertmaster Chan Yoong-Han Fixed Chair Cao Can* Chen Da Wei Duan Yu Ling Foo Say Ming Jin Li Kong Xianlong Cindy Lee Karen Tan William Tan Wei Zhe Ye Lin* Zhang Si Jing*

D O U B LE BAS S Yang Zheng Yi Associate Principal Karen Yeo Fixed Chair Olga Alexandrova Jacek Mirucki Guennadi Mouzyka Wang Xu

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FLUTE

H O RN

Jin Ta Principal Evgueni Brokmiller Associate Principal Roberto Alvarez Miao Shanshan

Han Chang Chou Principal Gao Jian Associate Principal Jamie Hersch Associate Principal Marc-Antoine Robillard Associate Principal Hoang Van Hoc

PICCOLO TR U M P ET

Roberto Alvarez Assistant Principal

Jon Paul Dante Principal David Smith Associate Principal Lau Wen Rong Sergey Tyuteykin

OBOE Rachel Walker Principal Pan Yun Associate Principal Carolyn Hollier Elaine Yeo

TR O M B O N E

Elaine Yeo Associate Principal

Allen Meek Principal Damian Patti Associate Principal Samuel Armstrong

CLARINET

B A SS T R O MBONE

Ma Yue Principal Li Xin Associate Principal Liu Yoko Tang Xiao Ping

Wang Wei Assistant Principal

BAS S CL AR I NE T

TIM P A N I

Tang Xiao Ping Assistant Principal

Christian Schiøler Principal Jonathan Fox Associate Principal

COR ANGL AI S

TU B A Tomoki Natsume Principal

BAS S OON P ER CU SSIO N

Wang Xiaoke Principal Liu Chang Associate Principal Christoph Wichert Zhao Ying Xue

Jonathan Fox Principal Mark Suter Associate Principal Mario Choo Lim Meng Keh

CONTRAB AS S OON H A RP

Zhao Ying Xue Assistant Principal

Gulnara Mashurova Principal P IA N O / CELE S T E Shane Thio^

* With deep appreciation to the Rin Collection for their generous loan of string instruments. # Kong Zhao Hui 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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ONLY THE FINEST MUSIC

2020/21 Season Patrons Our story began just over 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.

PATR ON SPONSO R Tote Board Group (Tote Board, Singapore Pools & Singapore Turf Club)

MAE STR O C IR C L E Mr & Mrs Goh Yew Lin Temasek Foundation The HEAD Foundation

SYMPHONY C IR C LE Aquilus Pte Ltd Embassy of France in Singapore Christopher & Rosy Ho John Swire & Sons (S.E. Asia) Pte Ltd Lee Foundation Anonymous

C ONC E R TO C IR C LE Far East Organization Ho Ching Keppel Corporation Kris Foundation Clarinda & Christopher Martin Paige Parker & Jim Rogers Andreas & Doris Sohmen-Pao Neil & Mi Jong Tottman United Overseas Bank Ltd Geoffrey & Ai Ai Wong Dr Thomas Zuellig & Mary Zuellig

O VER T U RE PAT RONS Su Pin & Mervin Beng Odile & Douglas Benjamin BINJAITREE Lito & Kim Camacho Prof Cham Tao Soon Prof Chan Heng Chee Cara & Tamara Chang Chng Hak-Peng Mr & Mrs Choo Chiau Beng Prof Arnoud De Meyer Dr Geh Min Goh Swee Chen Vivien Goh Judy Hunt Maisy Koh & Dr Beh Swan Gin Leong Wai Leng LGT Bank (Singapore) Ltd

Michael Lien Beatrice Lim FC Marina Bay Sands Devika & Sanjiv Misra Kai S. Nargolwala Nomura Asset Management Singapore Ltd NSL Ltd Pavilion Capital Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore Pte Ltd Prima Limited Prof Gralf & Silvia Sieghold Stephen Riady Group of Foundations Total Trading Asia Pte Ltd Peter C.Y. Wong Catherine & David Zemans Anonymous (2)

S ER ENAD E PAT RONS Dennis Au & Geraldine Choong Charles Brooks Lionel Choi Goh Sze Wei Jerry Gwee Havas Media Asia Pacific Pte Ltd Steven & Liwen Holmes Angela Huang & Geo Chen Robert Khan Lee Kok Keong Leong Wah Kheong A.D. Lim Lin Diaan-Yi

Mak Hoe Kit Dr Adrian Mondry Ng Pei-Sian Joyce, Swee Meng Ng & family Eddy Ooi Mark Procyshyn Mr & Mrs Robin Ian Rawlings Dr Alban Salord Ivan Tan Meng Cheng Kennie Ting Manju & Arudra Vangal Anonymous

R HA P SO D Y PAT RONS Ryoichi Akao Ang Ming Yi & Tanyatorn Lewchaleamwong Samuel Armstrong Vivian Chandran Dr Faith Chia Evelyn Chin Mr & Mrs Dorian Goh Lorinne Kon KRPL Family Fund Mr & Mrs Patterson Lau Dr Lee Shu Yen Dr Leong Keng Hong

Stuart Liventals Ng Yong Ngee Ong Kong Hong Esmé Parish & Martin Edwards Greet Pelckmans Ron & Janet Stride Tibor Zoltan Szabady Anthony Tay Teo Lay Lim Dr Dang Vu & Oanh Nguyen Wicky Wong Anonymous (3)

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P R EL U D E PAT RONS Ang Seow Long Kaiyan Asplund & family Jocelyn Aw Dr Daniel N. Bach Prof Kanti Bajpai Lawrence & Celeste Basapa Bryan Carmichael Chan Ah Khim Jeanie Cheah Dr Cynthia Chee Cheng Eng Aun Cheng Wei Margaret Chew Dr Peter Chew Chong Eun Baik Chong Mi-Li Pamela Belinda Chua Chung Sui Foh Sally Chy Arthur Davis Ridzuan Farouk Elizabeth Fong Gan Chee Yen Gan Yit Koon Pavitar Kaur Gill Goh Chin Sean Goh Chiu Gak Mrs Goh Keng Hoong Goh Shin Ping Chiraporn Prof Goh Suat Hong Wynthia Goh Ilya Gutlin Owen Hawkes & Eunice Tan William Hernstadt Shaun The-Huan Hoang Vanessa & Darren Iloste Simon Ip Jordan Isac Jellycat Sg Peggy Kek Khor Cheng Kian

Paul Seiji Kitamura Belinda Koh Yuh Ling Dr Koh Chee Kang & Chang Ting Lee Koh Han Wei Helen Koh Colin Lang Mr & Mrs Winson Lay Lee Eng Lye Andrew Lee Li-Ming Dr Norman Lee Viktor & Sonja Leendertz Lek Lee Yong Er Stephen Leong Wendy Leong Marnyi Leow Oon Geok Dr Bettina Lieske Lim Shue Churn Suzanne Lim Lim Yuin Wen Lin Xiangqian Candice Ling Ling Yu Fei Firenze Loh Dr Loh Kai Woh Low Boon Hon Fabian Lua Joshua Margolis Capt Isac Mathews Meng Dr Agnes Ng Ngiam Shih Chun Monique Ong Audrey Phua Preetha Pillai Raymond Quah Queenie & Friends Rak Syscom Pte Ltd Ian & Freda Rickword Robert Khan & Co Pte Ltd

Charles Robertson Alexey Rumyantsev Andreas Ruschkowski Audrey Ruyters Michael Schlesinger Caroline Seow Retno Setyaningsih Naoyoshi Nick Shimoda Susan Sim Marcel Smit & Hanneke Verbeek Soh Leng Wan Veiter Soo Yukari Takada Casey Tan Khai Hee Tan Cheng Guan Gordon H L Tan Tan Lian Yok Tan Pei Jie Tan Yee Deng Aileen Tang Abel Teo Daniel Teo Valerie Thean Alicia Thian & Brian Bonde Toby & Margit Oliver Trianto Q. Mevr. Marie-Christine Van Meel Andrew & Stephanie Vigar Kris Wiluan Paul Winfindale & Huong Nguyen Wong Lai Foon Wu Guowei Lillian Yin Darren Yong & Connie Chaird Yong Seow Kin Zhang Xinyue Anonymous (19)

This list reflects donations that were made from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020.

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.

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We love orchestral music and there is nothing like a live orchestral performance!

because...

The SSO brought Yo-Yo Ma, Lang Lang and Leonidas Kavakos to me in Singapore!

I have many happy memories with my family at the SSO Babies’ Proms, Pops and Christmas concerts…

The SSO is an arts charity and depends on donations. If you love the SSO, please consider making a donation to support your orchestra –

Every gift makes a difference.

As a valued donor patron of the SSO, you will receive many benefits.

PATRON CATEGORIES

PAT R O N BENEFITS

Prelude

Rhapsody

Concert0 Circle

Serenade

Overture

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–

–

6 tickets

10 tickets

12 tickets

16 tickets

20 tickets

–

–

2 tickets

4 tickets

6 tickets

$1,000 - $2,499

$2,500 - $4,999

–

$5,000 - $9,999 $10,000 - $24,999 $25,000 & ABOVE

Tax Benefits Priority Booking Discounts for all SSG concerts Invitation to special events Donor listing: 1. Concert booklets and website 2. Donors’ Wall at VCH

Complimentary tickets to the following concert types: 1. Subscription /VCHpresents / Family / SIPF /SISTIC Live 2. Gala /Christmas/Pops

*The benefits above do not apply to supporters who give through an event.

To find out more, please visit www.sso.org.sg/support-us, write or speak to Nikki Chuang at nikki@sso.org.sg or +65 6602 4238.

Corporate Patronage Form a special relationship with Singapore’s national orchestra and increase your name recognition among an influential and growing audience. Our concerts provide impressive entertainment and significant branding opportunities.

SSO Corporate Patrons enjoy attractive tax benefits, Patron of the Arts nominations, acknowledgements in key publicity channels, complimentary tickets, and invitations to exclusive SSO events.

Temasek Foundation The HEAD Foundation SMRT Corporation John Swire & Sons (S.E. Asia) Pte Ltd Lee Foundation Santa Lucia Asset Management Pte Ltd European Union Delegation to Singapore Keppel Corporation Embassy of France in Singapore SPONSORS Symphony 924 Singapore Airlines Ltd Conrad Centennial Singapore

For more details, please write or speak to Chelsea Zhao at chelsea.zhao@sso.org.sg or +65 6663 4251.

SSO MUSICIANS PLAY FOR INVICTUS FUND

! se u ca d o o g a r o f s u in o J Our musicians Jamie Hersch, Hoang Van Hoc and Lau Wen Rong perform the Jupiter Hymn by Gustav Holst in support of The Invictus Fund - an initiative by ComChest to channel donations to social service agencies that support those impacted by COVID-19.

We hope their performance would inspire you to support this campaign.

From all of us at the SSO, thank you for your generosity.

WATCH VIDEO AND DONATE HERE: www.comchest.sg/SSOCares

Benefit Dinner 2020 Appeal Our Heartfelt Appreciation to You

Our deepest appreciation to our donors despite the cancellation of the SSO Benefit Dinner this year.

Because of contributions from committed patrons like you, the SSO will be able to keep the music going and continue to be a source of comfort, joy and inspiration for Singapore and others around the world.

$50,000 AND ABOVE Aquilus Pte Ltd Christopher & Rosy Ho

$25,000 AND ABOVE Far East Organization Kris Foundation Paige Parker & Jim Rogers Andreas & Doris Sohmen-Pao

United Overseas Bank Geoffrey & Ai Ai Wong Dr Thomas & Mrs Mary Zuellig

$10,000 AND ABOVE Lito & Kim Camacho Mr & Mrs Choo Chiau Beng Maisy Koh & Dr Beh Swan Gin Lee Foundation

LGT Bank (Singapore) Ltd Marina Bay Sands Prof Gralf & Silvia Sieghold Stephen Riady Group of Foundations

$5, 000 AND ABOVE

$2,500 AND ABOV E

Manju & Arudra Vangal

Odile & Douglas Benjamin Ron & Janet Stride

$1,000 AND ABOV E Dennis Au & Geraldine Choong Celeste & Lawrence Basapa Belinda Chua Alicia Thian & Brian Bonde Kris Wiluan Anonymous

This list reflects donations of $1,000 and above, that were under the Benefit Dinner 2020 Appeal.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to donors whose names were inadvertently left out at print time.

S S O N A T I O N AL DAY C ONC ER T | 15 A U G 2020

SANDRA LIM (b. 1991) Born and raised in Singapore, Sandra Lim is a composer and arranger. Her compositions and arrangements stretch across various genres ranging from whimsical, lilting melodies to electronic music with quirky, complex textures. Her compositions include music for short films – ‘Quietly’ (2013) and ‘Anticipation’ (2016) commissioned by the Public Service Division, Singapore and arrangements featured for Joanna Dong 董 姿彦 and Sing! Men's Chorus.

Sandra holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Contemporary Writing and Production, from Berklee College of Music, Boston, USA, where she studied Music Composition and Arranging with Bill Elliott and Joe Carrier.

New Beginnings (World Premiere)

by Sandra Lim The melodies of our local evergreen songs, like Di Tanjong Katong and Singapura, Sunny Island have been with me since young. These are some songs that have shaped our Singapore Story – a collage of many different stories pieced together. New Beginnings is my contribution to this story.

May it bring you on a journey of discovery, new opportunities, or a new beginning.

An accomplished pianist and double bassist, Sandra was also a member of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra (SNYO) from 2004-2013 under the directorship of Lim Soon Lee and Darrell Ang, performing on local and international stages, representing Singapore on various tours.

Programme note by Sandra Lim

Instrumentation 2 flutes, 2 oboes (1 doubling on cor anglais), 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, trumpet, bass trombone, timpani, suspended cymbal, cymbals, mark tree, glockenspiel, xylophone, harp, piano, strings 19

SSO NATIONAL DAY C ONC ER T | 1 5 AUG 2 0 2 0

TAN YUTING (b. 1993) Singaporean composer Tan Yuting writes music which explores the interaction of different sounds to form unique colours and textures. Her music has been recognized with awards including first prize in the Macht Competition for Orchestral Composition (2018), first prize in the Virginia Carty deLillo Composition Competition (2018), and third prize in the Prix d’Été Competition (2017) at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and has been performed in Singapore, USA, UK, New Zealand, and Italy. Recent collaborations include performances by the Peabody Symphony Orchestra, Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble Dal Niente, Empyrean Ensemble, ~Nois, Alarm Will Sound, Now Hear This, Unassisted Fold, and Ensemble Soundinitiative. Yuting also enjoys working with artists from other fields and creating music in collaboration with other art forms.

She has worked with Singaporean poet, Dr. Tan Chee Lay, to create a song cycle about Singapore’s Chinatown. In 2019, she performed her original live score for the USA premiere screening of Chinese film pioneer Shouju Zhu’s 1925 film Stormy Night (风雨 之夜).

Metro (Asian Premiere)

by Tan Yuting Metro (short for “metropolitan” and also referring to the urban public transportation system) depicts life in a bustling urban city. The rhythmic interlocking of the winds, strings, and piano juxtapose against the driving hi-hat cymbal, which plays a central role in generating a pulse for the first and last section of the piece. The middle section is slower but still intense, as the piano takes on a more soloistic role playing sudden interjections of quick figurations.

Programme note by Tan Yuting

Yuting is currently pursuing a PhD in Music Composition at the University of Chicago on a full fellowship from the Division of the Humanities. She also holds Master of Music degrees in Music Composition and Music Theory Pedagogy from the Peabody Institute, and a Joint Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Composition with Honours (Highest Distinction), awarded jointly by the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music and the Peabody Institute.

Instrumentation flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, bass trombone, hi-hat, triangle, temple blocks, piano, strings 20

S S O N A T I O N A L DAY C ONC ER T | 15 A U G 2020

JONATHAN SHIN (b. 1992) Pianist-composer Jonathan Shin made his concerto debut with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra at age 16 and later became the youngest-ever winner of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory Concerto Competition. Jonathan began composing in 2016 with his song cycle The Other Merlion and Friends, which The Straits Times praised as “the most compelling and worthwhile new work from any Singaporean composer in recent years.”

In his first year at Longy School of Music, Jonathan won both the Orchestral Composition Competition and Concerto Competition, and was conferred the Patricia Sherman Award and the Roman Totenburg Award. In 2019, he received the St. Botolph Club's Emerging Artist Award. His 1819 Suite, commissioned for the Singapore Bicentennial, was called “supremely confident and comfortable in its own skin.”

(The Straits Times)

City Arising (World Premiere)

by Jonathan Shin The busy sounds of a city arising to the challenge of a new day was something I keenly missed while I was overseas; the endearingly irritating koel call, MRT beepers, the karung guni man’s song — these little melodic strands, among others, make up the fabric of my musical memory of Singapore.

In City Arising, these strands are woven together and whipped into a whirlwind of lyrical ardor and delirious fun.

Jonathan is currently pursuing his doctoral degree in composition at the Peabody Institute, under the tutelage of Prof. Kevin Puts. He is a founding member of the multigenre group Lorong Boys.

Programme note by Jonathan Shin

Instrumentation 2 flutes (1 doubling on piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, trumpet, bass trombone, timpani, side drum, suspended cymbal, cymbals, triangle, bass drum, xylophone, harp, piano, strings 21

SSO NATIONAL DAY C ONC ER T | 15 AUG 2 0 2 0

JOHN SHARPLEY (b. 1955) John Sharpley, a long-time Singapore resident, is often featured in concerts and festivals world-wide. His honours include the Texas Music Teacher’s Association Composition Prize, an American Cine-Eagle Award, a New York Film Festival Award and a special citation from Stanford University.

He was formerly composer-in-residence for the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and currently lectures at LaSalle College of the Arts. His music is featured on several commercial recordings.

Sharpley's compositions include orchestral works, operas, music for theatre, film and dance, chamber music, songs, and solo piano works. His orchestral works have been performed by the orchestras of the Singapore Symphony, China Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic, St. Petersburg Philharmonia, Novosibirsk Philharmonic Chamber, Braddell Heights Symphony and the Singapore Chinese Orchestra.

Sharpley earned a Doctorate in Music Composition from Boston University. His composition teachers include Michael Horvit, David Del Tredici, John Harbison and Leonard Bernstein.

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Kannagi, a legendary Tamil woman, is the central character of the ancient South Indian epic Silapathikaram (Tamil: “The story about an anklet”). She marries Kovalan, son of a rich merchant, who then takes a lover, Madhavi. Kovalan eventually returns to his faithful wife. Penniless, they journey to the city of Madurai hoping to sell one of Kannagi’s jewelled anklets. Unfortunately, the Queen of Madurai had just lost an anklet that resembles Kannagi’s. Unwittingly, Kovalan tries to sell the anklet to the jeweller who stole the Queen’s anklet. Kovalan is immediately reported to the King, seized and executed as punishment. Defiant, Kannagi proves the injustice and curses the King, his court and the unjust of Madurai. Her dilemma, purity and fidelity are recognised by the cosmic realm of gods and goddesses who aid her in the fiery destruction of Madurai. Kannagi is transformed into a goddess, purged of all desires by fire.

This is Kannagi’s mystic experience of perception outside of the material world; the oneness of all things; Maya (Sanskrit: illusion) dispelled. In this scene, the role of Kannagi is danced in the traditional Tamil form called Bharatanatyam. Several rasas (Sanskrit: emotional qualities) swirl until settling into shanti (Sanskrit: inner peace) as the all players sing Om (Sanskrit: vibrational source of reality or Brahman).

Programme note by John Sharpley

My opera, Kannagi, libretto by Robert Yeo, follows the heroine’s inner journey as she spirals into her inevitable metamorphosis.

Ultimately, after suffering and struggle, Kannagi finds resolve, freedom and spiritual oneness. Brahman: Kannagi’s Realization is the second to the last scene in the opera.

Instrumentation flute, piccolo, oboe, cor anglais, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, contrabassoon, 2 horns, trumpet, bass trombone, tam-tam, bass drum, harp, piano, celeste, strings 23

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Brahman: Kannagi’s Realization (World Premiere)

by John Sharpley

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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.

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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.

Home

by Dick Lee (arr. Kelly Tang) This concert video of Home was recorded live during the SSO National Day Concert 2018, featuring: Singapore Symphony Orchestra Darrell Ang, conductor Singapore Symphony Choruses Eudenice Palaruan, Choral Director Wong Lai Foon, Choirmaster Abigail Chow, sign language interpreter

When Home was first presented to the Sing Singapore Festival committee in 1997, the initial reaction from committee members was one of scepticism. Compared to the musical vigour and patriotic gusto of the likes of Count On Me, Singapore or Stand Up for Singapore – how could this slow, wistful song match them?

As it often turns out in the history of music, that which was originally written for a nowforgotten reason has over time taken on a much higher purpose.

Its composer Dick Lee was living in Hong Kong when he was asked to contribute to Sing Singapore. Being literally away from 25

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songs, Home, and the largely forgotten City for the World.

home allowed his homesickness to lend genuine poignancy to the song. The theme of the festival that year was the river, which is why it features in the words of Home.

And so, on 9 August 1998, a young Singaporean mandopop star by the name of Kit Chan stepped out before the façade of the former City Hall of Singapore, accompanied by a choir and in front of 60,000 Singaporeans. She had only rehearsed that same morning, to an empty Padang. The sight shocked her.

“I remember that it all tumbled out. It all came as almost one breath. ... It felt right.

I wrote the words and I wrote the tune all within, like, less than an hour. The melody I remember, came at once in a flow.”

– Dick Lee

Before 1998, songs were always sung en masse at the NDP. Never before had a soloist been in the limelight. But if there was any anxiety in her in this special moment, Kit did not show it. With a crescent and five stars pinned to the side of her hair, a gleam in her eye and soul in her voice, she became the one singer forever associated with Home.

“I sang it again in 2010 at the Padang ... I felt really connected with the people because they were just singing so loud. I could hear them even through my two in-ear monitors – I could hear them.”

It has been said that while school children today routinely sing a line-up of National Day songs at their school celebrations every August, including the latest titles, none of them are sung as loudly as Home – words and music that are older than them.

After its premiere, Home gradually seeped into the being of Singaporeans. When it was chosen again as the NDP song for 2004, Dick Lee finally realised its significance.

He has spent his entire career as an artist searching for Singaporean identity. He did not expect Home to do what it did: “… could this be a folk song, you know? Folk songs are called folk songs because folks sing them. Our folks seem to like it, and it seems now to have transcended already one generation.”

– Kit Chan Fortunately, despite the initial doubts, two individuals in the committee supported Home - both pioneers in the world of Singapore music: composer Bernard Tan and music director/ethnomusicologist Joseph Peters. In addition, among the committee was the chairman of the National Day Parade (NDP) for the following year.

Ultimately, NDP 1998 featured two official

“Singaporeans made it their song. I didn’t. I certainly didn’t set out to do that. And so it’s 26

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

Quotations from the article "Dick Lee , Kit Chan and Dr. Sydney Tan tell the story of Singapore's most beloved song, 'Home'" by Karen Gwee, published on Hear65 (2 Aug 2018), a national movement to promote Singaporean music and musicians.

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

Programme note by Chia Han-Leon

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 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) 27

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something that I learned, which is that this sense of who we are needs to come without you trying. So I realise that I don’t have to try to be Singaporean, I just have to be me, and I think that will come about.” – Dick Lee.

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Count On Me, Singapore

by Hugh Harrison (b. 1951) Arr. Stan Kružík

“young people standing together resolutely shouting to their leaders, ‘You can count on us!’” And thus, Count On Me, Singapore was born.

A song that a nation chooses to sing and re-sing through the years is what makes it take root as a song of its people, a national song. Count On Me, Singapore (1986) is the second of Singapore’s first three national songs, alongside Stand Up For Singapore (1984) and We are Singapore (1987), introduced in the 1980s. They have since attained classic status and remain staples of what are now commonly called National Day songs in Singapore.

Programme note by Chia Han-Leon

We have a vision for tomorrow, just believe.

We have a goal for Singapore, we can achieve.

You and me, we'll do our part, stand together, heart to heart.

We're going to show the world what Singapore can be!

We can achieve!

There is something down the road that we can strive for.

We are told no dream's too bold that we can't try for.

There's a spirit in the air, it's a feeling we all share.

We're going to build a better life, for you and me!

We can achieve!

It was in 1980 that then Senior Minister of State, Mr Lee Khoon Choy was appointed as chairman of the National Folk Songs Committee, with the mission to encourage community singing. “This is one way of building a nation, and it is a very necessary way”, said Mr Lee. Besides the national anthem, folk songs from the various ethnic communities were identified for this purpose, but the repertoire was deemed insufficient for national events.

Count on me Singapore, count on me to give my best and more.

You and me, we'll do our part, stand together, heart to heart.

We're going to show the world what Singapore can be!

We can achieve!

To address this, the government of Singapore decided to commission new songs by way of a larger publicity campaign celebrating Singapore’s 25th year of selfgovernment (since 1959). The advertising agency McCann-Erickson made a bid, and among its team was one Hugh Harrison, a Canadian former Jazz pianist. Harrison received the brief for the bid on a Friday and spent a weekend writing Stand Up For Singapore. His agency won.

Count on me, Singapore, Count on me to give my best and more.

Count on me, Singapore.

Together, Singapore!

Instrumentation 3 flutes, 2 oboes, 3 clarinets, 3 bassoons, 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, drumset, bass drum, cymbals, glockenspiel, bass guitar, strings

Later, while on a trip to Hong Kong, Harrison received word that the Singapore government had asked for a second song.

On his return flight, he had a vision of 28

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ZUBIR SAID (1907–1987) 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 self-taught 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.

Majulah Singapura (Reorchestrated by Kelly Tang, 2020 - World Premiere)

by Zubir Said

to create a new orchestration of Majulah Singapura for this year’s special edition of SSO’s National Day Concert. It is dedicated to musicians and staff of the SSO, and other Singaporean musicians and music teachers who persevered to give us music despite the pandemic, in the firm belief that music will keep us strong, buoyant and united as a community. It was a special challenge re-scoring the original full instrumentation for an ensemble one-third the size. I had to innovate in unprecedented ways to solve the voicing issues with only one trumpet, one trombone and one percussionist.

This reflects the spirit of the times, which challenges us to innovate, to be courageous and to celebrate life more than ever before.”

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.

Instrumentation flute, piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, bassoon, contrabassoon, 2 horns, trumpet, bass trombone, timpani, side drum, tam-tam, strings

For the reorchestration made for the SSO National Day Concert 2020, composer Kelly Tang writes, “it is a special honour for me 29

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