颍川之夜 @ Johor Bahru

Today Siong Leng will be taking a trip to Malaysia to take part in the “Arts Festival @ Johor Bahru, Malaysia”.

This festival was organized by the Chen Shi Clan Association to be held in conjunction with their 70^th anniversary.

The performance shall entail a parade down the Chen Xu Nian Street, toward the stage where there will be a series of performances.

Siong Leng will be playing songs such as 《共君断约》, a traditional duet Nan Yin piece and 《走马》, one of four famous Nan Yin pieces.

Young Musicians Wanted!

Founded in 1941, Siong Leng Musical Association is a cultural institution promoting Nanyin and Liyuan Opera.

Young Musician Wanted!

Want to know more about nanyin and its different instruments? Come join us today!

Contact us at:

E-mail: slmusic@singnet.com.sg

Telephone: 6222 4221

Address: 4B Bukit Pasoh Road S(089816)

Website: http://siongleng-nanyin.blogspot.com

Nanyin at the British High Commission

Siong Leng performed at the British High Commissioner’s residence, Eden Hall for the SIF-BC MoU Signing Ceremony (Singapore International Foundation-British Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony) on 18th of May 2011.

The repertoire consisted of a combination of 感怀 (Gan Huai) and 梅花操 (Mei Hua Cao), followed by 心 (Xin).

Following the show was the MoU signing, which was witnessed by Mr Lui Tuck Yew, as well as HE Antony Phillipson.

From Left to Right: Jean Tan -Executive Director of the Singapore International Foundation,

Mr. Lui Tuck Yew -Minister for Information, and Communications and the Arts,

Mark Howard –Singapore Country Director to the British Council

With the performance and MoU signing completed, Siong Leng mingled with the audience, sharing with them their knowledge of this ancient tradition. It was a well put up show for which Siong Leng has received several emails with positive feedback to date.

Nanyin at Esplanade Concourse

As part of the Tapestry of Sacred Music programme organised by Esplanade, Siong Leng Musical Association performed on 16th and 17th of April at the concourse of the Esplanade. The Siong Leng ensemble performed in three sessions of 30 minutes each, from 7.15pm, 8.15pm and 9.15pm on 16th April, and from 5.15pm and 6.15pm on 17th April.

In the first session, they performed the piece, "In Praise of Guan Yin of the Southern Seas" 南海观音赞 (Nan Hai Guan Yin Zan). In the second session, they performed two pieces, "Before the altar" 第子坛 (Di Zi Tan) and "The Plum Blossons" 梅花操 (Mei Hua Cao). In all the performances, the turnout was very good, some who came to watch and others who passed by.

On family brought their old grandma (probably in her late 80s or early 90s) in a wheelchair to watch. She must have watched or perhaps even sung Nanyin in her younger days.

Thanks to the handouts by the Esplanade, the audience could have a better appreciation of the stories from which the songs sung.

Nanyin Performance at Thian Hock Keng on 23 Mar 11 2M19 二月十九

From a long tradition of honouring Guan Yin in Thian Hock Keng, three times a year, Siong Leng Musical Association performs on the three festival days, namely, in Chinese Lunar Calendar, 2M19, 6M19 and 9M19.

The first performance for this new lunar year, Siong Leng added some innovations into the show. A piano was added to add in new sounds to the traditional music. For the song dedicated to Singapore, two girls no older than 8 years old sang the "Garden of the East" 东方花园. A song composed by the late Mr. Teng Mah Seng 丁马成 in 1982 praising Singapore's meritocracy, stability, peace and racial harmony, the meaning of the song is now passed on to the younger generation.

This performance, also known as Teng Mah Seng Nanyin Concert III, is part of a series of concerts performed in memory of Mr. Teng who composed a couple of hundred of new Nanyin pieces, which have been internationally recognised. This year, 2011, also marks the 70th Anniversary of Siong Leng Musical Association.

Here is a video clip, recorded live from Thian Hock Keng on 23 Mar 2011. This song entitled "An Unforgettable Song" 一曲难忘 was written by Mr. Teng Mah Seng in 1981, a creative adaptation of the pop song "An Unforgettable Song" most notably of the classical parts on "everlasting love" and "unforgettable".

Nanyin at Thian Hock Keng

On 23 Mar 2011, that is the 19th day of the 2nd Lunar Month, Thian Hock Keng celebrates in honour of the first feast day of Guan Yin. As part of a tradition for the past two decades, Siong Leng Musical Association will present a Nanyin performance in the temple in the evening of this day. Be there by 7.30pm to catch the performance.

It will be like what it was in the past years, where devotees and people of all ages come together to enjoy an age old Southern Sounds, music and songs with musical instruments that were played and sung since the Tang Dynasty.

This is a picture of a Liyuan performance held in October last year, that was 9M19, the third feast day of Guan Yin.

Be seeing you there and do pass the word along for this rather rare performance in Singapore. Nanyin is one of  UNESCO's Intangible Heritage.

Welcome to Nanyin - the Southern Sounds

As part of our effort in sharing our ancient tradition, keeping it alive, and in encouraging anyone interested to join us to learn more about this ancient music and songs, we are launching this blog to tell more about Nanyin and the activities that Siong Leng will be organising.

Please share with your friends who might be interested.

Watch out for more news from this space!