Jointly by:
Isabel Goh Ern Zi (Sr1ScB)
Tan Yi Khai (Sr1ScD)
Thow Myra (JR3M)
On this wonderful evening of 13 July 2019, Kuen Cheng Chinese Orchestra held their highly anticipated 30th anniversary concert, entitled 卅 (sà) in English meaning Thirty. As every note of the night filled the air, it struck the hearts of the audiences with passion and hard work, evident of the sacrifices made by the team of performers and helpers alike.
Since its founding, the Chinese Orchestra has held eight major concerts. The talented orchestra took part in many national competitions and did performances for various festive events nationwide. The current coachers cum advisors, Mr. Steven Goh and Mr. Chong Koi Min first got involved with the Chinese Orchestra two years ago, in 2017 and have since contributed tremendously in maintaining the standard of the orchestra.
The night was unveiled with Train Toccata, composed by Liu Yuan and arranged by Giang Yin for Chinese Orchestra under the masterful hand of junior coach Mr Chong Koi Min. Throughout the piece, echoes of a train chugging along its tracks could be heard. The distinct sound and tone quality of oriental instruments were cleverly arranged and layered to paint a lively picture of a real, moving train. A whistle was used to imitate the horns of a traditional train which left the audience with a fresh experience.
Next, the GEM medley was introduced, under the baton of a student conductor. GEM is a renowned artist from Hong Kong who became an even bigger sensation after having covered various pop songs on hit reality show, I am a singer. This carefully arranged medley consisted of Tornado, You Are Not Truly Happy, I Like You, Being and Intoxicated.
Following the earworm of a medley was a Suona Concerto with club alumni Tang Yi Qwan on solo suona. Visuals of a blue sky and greener fields were floating above the minds of the listeners, with the suona in all its glory. Although the wind instrument is always dubbed as being too noisy or annoying like its western counterpart, the trumpet, Yi Qwan had successfully executed the piece if challenging music to bring out the true beauty of the suona.
The elegant side of the suona was met with the colourful Guandong Overture, under the baton of senior coach, Mr. Steven Goh. Reminiscent of lively streets filled with stalls selling exotic products and floating lanterns, this piece of music depicted the interesting scene in a northern Chinese city. The different sections in the orchestra were given solos and took turns replying to musical phrases which formed a dialog in a musical context. The beauty and diversity of the oriental instruments shone through in the buildup of the musical climax which resolved into grand and spectacular ending.
After intermission, The Chinese Orchestra once again showcased their versatility by playing an arrangement of Rolling In The Deep by English singer, Adele as well as a medley entitled E Generation Fever. The later formed a string of old school songs Odyssey, I’m Still Young, I Do and Blue and White Porcelain.
Strolling down memory lane, the orchestra took a stop at one of the most important chapters of the Chinese film industry. The impactful theme from the movie Our Times, A Little Happiness was introduced. This movie and its music took the world by storm for its light and easy beat as well as its touching lyrics. The sweet music complimented by a clip of the movie successfully evoked tears from some of the listeners across different generations.
The concert wrapped up with the first movement of Ode To The Sun- The River Crossing. This piece was taken from modern symphony Ode To The Sun which comprises of four movements composed for a Chinese Orchestra. This tense and anticipating piece had certainly kept the audience at the edge of the seat as the different tones mesh together to imitate the sounds of wind and a gushing current.
Unknowingly, the concert came to an end. Not content, the responsive audience started a chant for an encore to fill their desire for more. Indeed, dessert was served in the form of a whimsical composition, Typerwriter for Orchestra, originally written for a philharmonic orchestra by Leroy Anderson and later arranged for Chinese Orchestra. It started with the players’ roleplaying as office workers who then started throwing paper planes as work ended. A rubber chicken was smartly used to provide a comedic effect in the midst of the musical passages revolving around love, constancy, joy and perseverance.
The concert was a heart-winning success, captivating the attention of the audience who gave their loudest applause in return. This concert was evidence of the constant hard work, effort and burning passion put into making beautiful music which had touched the hearts of many that night. The orchestra boldly broke free of the stereotypes placed upon them and oriental music, perfectly showcasing their young and talented musicians, capable student conductors, versatility and creativity on that special night which had only left the audience longing for more.
