About the event
Event Introduction
As part of A Tapestry of Sacred Music, join us for a series of exchanges between international and locally based traditional artists whose artforms share distant historical influences. Listen as the artists demonstrate the similarities and differences in their sounds, instruments and approaches; and gain insight on how their respective traditions diverged with time and geography.
Following the dynastic decline of the Chinese Song dynasty (c. 960 – c. 1279) and invasion of the Mongols, music of the aristocrats and literati was brought from the northern capital to the south as the capital shifted. In the Quanzhou region, this music has evolved to become what we now know as nanyin, and still preserves aspects of ancient Chinese literati music. The musical tradition spread with the Hokkien diaspora and is brought to Singapore with the immigration of the southern Chinese.
Throughout history, Korea has also adopted cultural influences from exchanges with dynastic China, but in their incorporation developed an identity and flavour unique to its own. The parallels in music for the upper classes can be found in jeongga. Like the Chinese nanyin, it also involved a meditative and languid singing style, with poetic texts accompanied by chamber instruments. In both genres, many songs involved themes of love and parting. Join jeongga and minyo (folksong) vocalist Kim Bora and musicians from Siong Leng Musical Association as they share about their respective art in this session of cultural exchange.
Event Details
- Exchange: Kim Bora Meets Siong Leng Musical Association
- Date & Time: 26 Mar 2022, 17:00
- Venue: Esplanade Recital Studio
- Free. Pre-registration required.
- Public Booking: 18 Mar 2022, Fri, 9:00. Please click here.
There will be no admission for latecomers. Please arrive 15 minutes before the start of the workshop, your slot may be released for other patrons if you are not present 5 minutes before the start of the workshop.
- For audiences who have registered, please note:
- Those who have registered have priority entry to the venue.
- Seating will be assigned by our Esplanade ushers.
- Please arrive 5mins before the start of the performance to confirm your booking.
- Unconfirmed slots will be released to walk-in patrons on a first-come, first-served basis.
- No mingling is allowed in the venue.
About the Artist
About Kim Bora
Kim Bora is a virtuoso of Korean traditional vocal music, specialising in folk songs of the Gyeonggi region that surrounds the capital of Seoul as well as jeongga, a genre of poetic song enjoyed and written by the literati and aristocracy.
About Siong Leng Musical Association
Siong Leng Musical Association (SLMA) is the recipient of the National Arts Council Major Grant (2019–2022).
SLMA was established in 1941 and owes its success to late chairman Mr Teng Mah Seng. Under his guidance, SLMA has become an arts company that preserves and promotes nanyin. Mr Teng received the Cultural Medallion in 1987 due to his passion and love for nanyin. As SLMA’s chairman, he continuously worked to reform and revive nanyin. He revitalised nanyin by writing new lyrics and music that were livelier and more relatable. With his hard work and perseverance, nanyin was given a new life.
In 1983, SLMA participated in the 37th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and won third prize in the folk solo category with Mr Teng’s work Reminiscence, and fourth prize in the folk ensemble category with the traditional nanyin piece Trotting Horse. In 2010, SLMA took part in the same competition and won the first prize in the folk solo category with Mr Teng’s work Facets of Life.
SLMA has organised the inaugural Southeast Asia Nanyin Conference in 1977, the International Nanyin Concert & Symposium in 2000, International Youth Nanyin Concert and Symposium in 2015, as well as the International Youth Nanyin Festival in 2018. To ensure that the musicians maintain close relations with other nanyin musicians over the world and keep up with the development of nanyin, the company actively participates in International Nanyin Symposiums held in Asia, to contribute to the efforts of promoting and developing the ancient artform. SLMA has also toured and performed in major cities and countries in Europe, Asia, and the US.
In 2017, SLMA was the recipient of the inaugural Singapore Chinese Cultural Contribution Award, conferred by the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre.
Advisory:
From 1 Jan 2022, there will no longer be a concession for unvaccinated individuals to perform Pre-Event Testing in lieu of being fully vaccinated. All patrons (except for children aged 12 and below) need to be fully vaccinated#against COVID-19.
#Full vaccination refers to:
- having received the appropriate regimen of World Health Organisation Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL) vaccines including their respective duration post-vaccination for the vaccine to be fully effective, and had their vaccination records ingested in MOH’s national IT systems
- recovery from a COVID-19 infection within the last 180 days
All patrons are required to do SafeEntry check-in at the venue via the TraceTogether app (version 2.11 and above) or token only. Other modes of SafeEntry check-in will not be accepted.
Remind Me:
Provide us your details and we will send you a reminder email to book your ticket(s) when registrations open on 18 Mar 2022, Fri, 9am. Tickets to the programmes are redeemed through SISTIC only and are by first come, first served basis.
Information Source: Esplanade