Auld Lang Syne: Robert Burns, In The Midnight Hour

Friday, December 31, 2010

Aside:

Today is a special New Year's Day (1.1.11). It's lst January, 2011. You won't get this combination again for another 100 years.

Auld Lang Syne/Origin:

Yes, he did. Robert Burns (image) Scottish poet, wrote Auld Lang Syne in 1788, the song that you sing at a party, as the clock strikes the midnight chimes to usher a new year.

The tune is a traditional Emglish folk song called the Roud, taken from the data base of a librarian called Steve Roud who compiled the list only recently in 1993. Click You Tube on right bar as you read: >>>>>>>>>>>

Meaning:

The words of the song, literally translated from old Scottish dialect, means Old Long Ago and is about love and friendship in times past. There are many other arrangements and interpretations of this folk song and Beethoven has one gem of a version.

Singapore tries very hard to have 'original' songs. Perhaps one of our composer could think of a version for this island. Wouldn't work would it? And in what language?

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!

Lyrics:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

And auld lang syne.

Chorus:

For auld lang syne my dear

For auld lang syne

We'll take a cup o' kindness yet

For auld lang syne.

For other postings on Robert Burns click 'Labels' below.

Original article: Andy Lim

Information from Wikipedia and other Websites.

Image: http://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.wordpress.com/

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Dwarfs, POWs, Gunslinger, Teacher And Panther? Songs That We Don't Sing In The 60s

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Whistle While You Work:
I remember watching Disney cartoons when I was very young and loved Snow White (1937) with her seven dwarfs. One particular song, Whistle While You Work, enchanted me so much that I easily learnt the skill because I wanted to whistle the tune so badly. Music from the past has many of these whistling tunes. This posting is about some of them.
Coloney Bogey March:
Another one that became a whistling hit was the Colonel Bogey March written in 1914. Although not many people remember the title, they knew how to whistle, "that River Kwai song." The song was a powerful one because of its repetitive, simple melody and because it was from the soundtrack of the blockbuster, The Bridge On The River Kwai.

Prisoners of War:

The tune was played when the POWs marched towards the prison camp and is not to be mistaken with the orchestral counter-march composed in 1957 by Malcolm Arnold. Both marches had been recorded together by Mitch Miller and his Orchestra as March from the River Kwai - Colonel Bogey.

The Good, The Bad And The Ugly:

In 1966, Singapore film goers went wild with a spaghetti western called, The Good, The Bad And The Ugly and the main theme, composed by Ennio Morricoe, echoed for months everywhere.

Clint Eastwood:

Hugo Motenegro had a version using the Moog synthesizer that went up to number two on the Billboard Pop Single Chart in 1968. And gunslinger Clint Eastwood (image) clinched it again. It was so popular that it had been covered by our local group, The Stylers.

I Whistle A Happy Tune:

The very pretty Julie Andrews (in later years to become *Blake Edwards' wife) appeared in a movie that fascinated both young and old. The King And I (1956) showed for weeks at the Cathay Cinema in the 50s and a song that kept everyone bright and cheerful was, I Whistle A Happy Tune.

The King And I:

In the movie, it was performed on board a ship when teacher Andrews was on her way to meet Yul Brynner the King. To ease her son's fear and tension, she sang and whistled the song. It became a hit with other songs in the show.

The Pink Panther Theme:
The Henry Mancini Pink Panther Theme (1963) is an instrumental composition that whistled its way to a nomination at the Academy Award for Original Music Score in 1964. It won three awards.

Inspector Clouseau:

The movie about the pink cartoon character was animated in time to the tune. It became successful commercially and made bungling Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers), a character in the Pink Panther series. It was directed by special Oscar winner *Blake Edwards. *(A few days after this posting Blake Edwards passed away, with wife Julie Andrews by his side.)

Roger Whittaker:

There are many whistling tunes? Do you know one that you like? Have you heard of Roger Whittaker? He whistles most of his songs like Mexican Whistler, Pretty Bird, River Lady and classics like The Elizabethan Serenade. But that's another story...

Image:

Original article: Andy Lim.

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Dr. Goh Keng Swee: 1918 - 2010. The Complete Man And His Love For Music - 91 Years Young

Friday, May 14, 2010

Dr. Goh Keng Swee passed away on Friday, 14th May, 2010:

"'With very innovative ideas. I mean, could you imagine a Scottish Bagpipe Band in Singapore - with all Singapore girls?' President SR Nathan (Chapter 9, page: 171)." When so much has been written about him, how does one pay tribute to one of the main pillars of modern Singapore? And how does one pay tribute to a great man on an insignificant Singapore 60s music blog? I shall try.

Dr. Goh Keng Swee has passed on at 91 years young. When I was reading the book about him (image) by daughter-in-law Tan Siok Sun, I found insights on his love for both popular and classical music. Chapters 2 and 9 are entitled: 'Love in a Time of War' (halcyon days) and 'The Complete Man' (let music be the food of love).

"When he was not in school attending lectures and tutorials, or writing essays, he was out attending social functions or visiting the cinema with his male and female friends. He even took an interest in ballroom dancing, spending quite a bit of time patronising the dance halls at the New World and Great World cabarets with his favourite partners. Still GKS (Dr. Goh) was not as light of foot on the dance floor... (page: 35)." I am certain he enjoyed 40, 50s and 60s dance music and the big band sound because that's what they played at these cabarets.

Dr. Goh grew up in a musical environment and as his elder sister Ida Goh (my former school principal) played the piano, he had tried to play the accordion. "Though he enjoyed popular music of his time, his interest in classical music endured throughout his life... (page: 178)." And when he travelled on official business to cities renowned for their great orchestras, Dr. Goh would "invariably ask to attend a concert" as he, "enjoyed these diverting interludes very much. (page: 178)."

In fact, Dr. Goh encouraged the establishment of a small symphony orchestra, "not merely to entertain converted music lovers but to educate Singaporeans in good musical taste..." a special effort to be "directed towards more promising materials such as school children... ( page: 179)." And as Dr. Goh envisaged, The Singapore Symphonia Orchestra Company was formed in 1978 and its first concert was on January 24th, 1979 at the Singapore Conference Hall.

There was also the Music and Drama Company which he initiated at the Singapore Armed Forces and the setting up of a theatre for Cantonese Opera at his Kreta Ayer constituency in 1969 (page: 177). They were blueprints in his mind but he made them a reality. And, as he said himself, he wasn't a dreamer but a visionary.

Well, I stayed on the music theme and had quotes about a fabulous founding father. I try... Comments?

Image: Book cover from amazon.com

Extracts from: "Goh Keng Swee - A Portrait" by Tan Siok Sun. Editions Didier Millet/SNP Security Printing Pte Ltd (2007). This quotations from this posting is only a fraction of the book about the brilliant architect of Singapore's economy. One truly honourable man.

Original article: Andy Lim.

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Danny Koh Tinkling Through The Years (Part I)

Monday, March 22, 2010

Danny Koh (2nd left) with his group of professionals, provides live music at one of the grand hotels in Singapore.

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DANNY KOH - THEN AND NOW:

I met Danny Koh (image) at Plaza Singapura, amidst the drone and din of an air-conditioned food court, after he agreed to an interview. It was the school holiday and the shopping centre was a sea of teenagers.

Danny is a handsome, dashing gentleman who speaks with confidence and command. During the mid-60s, he made a name for himself as the keyboardist with *The Trailers, one of the top guitar instrumental groups in Singapore.

Daniel Koh, who takes his craft seriously, is now a much respected musician. He has been for the past 35 years, an accomplished pianist (LRSM, FLCM), music director, arranger, composer, singer and successful entrepreneur.

Active as ever, he is presently attached to an internationally well-known music school teaching pop and jazz piano for the ABRSM Jazz Courses. He is one of the official examiners in the popular music category in Singapore schools and assists MINDEF with its band in the Music and Drama section.

For 3 years Danny was the President of the Musicians’ Union of Singapore, music advisor for the Singapore Hilton Hotel and the American Club. Danny was attached to Television Singapore (presently Media Corp) as Music Director for the 28 series of Take Four, a popular entertainment programme.

Besides his busy schedule Danny still performs and has, upon request, played at the President’s Istana (palace) for the Prime Minister of Singapore, in honour of prime ministers from New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia, Australia and the Philippines.

There's also the personal side of Danny... More about him in future postings.

Image: Danny Koh Collection.

Original article: Andy Lim Collection.

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