This project would certainly have to count as one of my favourite performances this year. Having discovered all these amazing talented singers working with absolutely ravishing and often tear-jerking repertoire has greatly inspired me! Time to get down to writing more songs!
Continue reading ‘Dreaming, Wide Awake - The Music of Jason Robert Brown’
Finally had time to load the Strait’s Times’s review of my performance of ‘Et in Spiritum Sanctum’ with the Philharmonic Chamber Choir’s recent performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Mass in B Minor
Reviewer Chang Tou Liang mentioned me as a “standout” expressed that he would have appreciated a longer solo from me. Was described as “warm and burnished baritone”
Not bad I think 
Friday the 9th of May 2008 will surely have to be remembered as one of the most exciting days of my young performing life.
I was meant to be singing together with the Singapore Symphony Chorus in a rendition of Luis Bacalov’s Misa Tango when I received a phone call from Lim Yau, the conductor for the concert, at around 1730h to say that the bass-baritone soloist for the evening Tyler Duncan had suddenly fallen ill and was no longer able to sing that evening!
The net result of which, was that I was asked to take over the Baritone solo for the Mass, and inadvertently had my first opportunity to sing with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra as a soloist in the Esplanade Concert Hall. And all within less than three hours of notification!
For a performance, where I had not had the opportunity to rehearse with either the orchestra or the other soloists, I thought that I had managed a decent job .. .. I hope there would be some reviews of the concert so I can better ascertain what the public’s reception of the performance was
Needless to say, I had a fantastic time, and am now looking forward to the next performance, this time with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Singapore, in a performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Mass in B Minor, where I will be taking the Baritone solo “Et in Spiritum Sanctum” Can’t wait!
Second film soundtrack for Ellery. The particular challenge of the soundtrack for this was the need to find a singaporean sound for a Singaporean movie.
I felt obliged to ensure that there was a certain Chinese-like quality without sucumbing to mindless pentatonic scales and other cliches.
The result was music for piano, cello and viola. Western instruments for what is essentially a western styled country in Asia. However, gesturally, I hope that besides the sentimentality of the music, that there was also a definite Asian tinge.
Here’s the trailer.
The Philharmonic Orchestra in Singapore will be continuing their Sibelius Cycle with performances of the composer’s 2nd and 4th symphonies.
I’ll be hosting a pre-concert talk on the subject entitled “Getting to know Sibelius!”. Please see below for details of the event:
Date: 30th March 2008, Sunday
Time: 1930h
Pre-Concert Talk: 1830 - 1900h, Esplanade Concert Hall Foyer, by Leon Chia, hosted by Ng Tian Hui
Venue: The Esplanade Concert Hall
Artistes: The Philharmonia Orchestra, Conductor Lim Yau
Tickets: sistic.com
Synopsis:
Continue reading ‘Pre-Concert Talk: Getting to Know Sibelius’
My thanks go out to the Philharmonic Chamber Choir of Singapore who kindly allowed one of their own members to present a concert which in addition to its alignment with the Singapore Art Museum’s exhibition, was also the opportunity for me to present a public performance as a choral conductor, in fulfillment of the audition requirements for my pursuit of further studies in Choral Conducting.
While not by far, the most polished performance that the choir has presented, the concert attracted an audience of people who would not otherwise normally have experienced the beauty of choral music, and thus I hope helps to develop the love of music in Singapore in some small way.
Organised by the Singapore Drama Educators Association in 2006, The Teachers Triple Bill featured that somewhat rare creature in the Singapore Education Sector, that of the practising teacher of the Arts.Held on the 14th of July 2006, this provided me with the enjoyable experience of working with other teachers in various different education settings who continued to practise that various art disciplines.
Below is a brief synopsis of the performance:
Driven by both his madness and passion, Vincent struggled to constantly find an artistic vocabulary that could aptly capture the angst he kept within him. Throughout his life, Vincent produced many works that weren’t immediately appreciated. Now, they are looked upon as an object o intense charm and beauty; even invigorating for many who were able to see the beauty beneath the thick paste of paint he vigorously applied.“Vincent” the dance, is a non-narrative attempt to present the story of a man’s manic passion with a broad brushstroke.
The visual elements of the dance are inspired by the vibrant energy that emanates from the canvas of Vincent Van Gogh’s famous paintings. Here, you see a spatial interpretation of swirls - constantly transiting from quiet unease to sudden outburst of erratic grace, just like the mind of the artist himself.This piece is a collaboration bewteen artists, educators and youth. A melding of ideas and passion for dance, music and art.
Cast:
Conceptualiser & Choreographer: Juraimy Abu Bakar
Dancers: Juraimy Abu Bakar, Anthony Lau Choo Yang, Huang Yuzhu
Musicians: Ng Tian Hui (Singer) Ryan Esguerra Lim Lee (Guitar) Sian Tzu Casteels (Violin)
In keeping with my attempts at documenting the various compositions that I had written over the past years.
Here is the programme cover for a dance production for which I wrote original music for - Bitter Chocolate.
As noted on the front cover of the programme, this production was jointly presented by Apsara Asia and World in Theatre. Both theatre companies in Singapore.
The production featured a collection of dance works revolving around the central theme of Bitter Chocolate - something sweet, something bitter, choreographed by various different talents.
The item I wrote music for was entitled Urban Requiem. Featuring four cellos distributed at the 4 points of a square of projected light, the music of the cellos represented a sonic barrier in which the protagonist is confined. I thus explored the use of the perception of lines of sound to affect the audience’s perception of dramatic space.
The original programme notes are as follows:
“A man struggles against the relentless march of the modern world around him. His cry to ‘release’ anything and everything that bounds, confines or restricts his serenity drives him to insanity and suffocation. He hopes to be released from the grip of his present space that limits and immobiliszes his soul and mind .. ..”
Choreography/Direction by Juraimy Abu Bakar
Performed by Juraimy Abu Bakar, Khairul Shahrin, Shanti Gomes, Huang Yuzhu
Music for 4 cellos performed by: Eva Lin Hun Yi, Lee Hou Koon, Lee Cher Farn, and Tow Huifen
Poem by Cyril Wong
Voice over by Juraimy Abu Bakar
This would be the third film by Ellery Ngiam for whom I have had the pleasure to work with as a film composer.The score features solo piano and the sensual vocals of countertenor Phua Ee Kia.Please see the information below to catch a screening of the film as part of the Singapore International Film FestivalDance of a Modern Marriage
Date: 5 Apr 2008, 1615h; 9 Apr 2008, 1900hVenue: SinemaTickets: $8.40 from SISTICOriginal Film Soundtrack by: Ng Tian HuiDirected by: Ellery NgiamSynopsis:A married couple attends a swinger’s party in the attempt to re-ignite the spark in the marriage.
The time is now just past 1am in the morning. I’m still abuzz with the excitement from working on Bach’s Cantata BWV 82 ‘Ich habe genug”
It is just such a pleasure to be making music in a chamber music context. Rarely does a singer get to discuss matters of tempo, bowing, phrasing, sentiment etc in an intimate way as this rehearsal was.
I guess this is the joy of amateur music making. Everyone is there because they want to. A huge contrast from some other encounters I have had.
Just wanted to post these wonderful pictures created by my dear friend Edmund Ng who so graciously lent us his photographic eyes for a night of rehearsals!
For everyone who is curious about this event, here are the details:
‘ich habe genug’ Cantatas for the Feast of the Purification of Mary
Venue: Singapore Bible College Worship Hall
Date: 3rd February 2008
Time: 2000 - 2115h
Featuring:
The Empyrean Ensemble led by Seah Huan Yuh
Baritone Solo by yours truly (ie Ng Tian Hui)
Programme:
J.S. Bach - Cantata BWV 82 “Ich habe genug”
J.S. Bach - Cantata BWV 158 “Der Friede sei mit dir”
Tickets: $16 including ticket handling charge available from tickets.com
“Welt, gute nacht!”
