Yang Xun plays Schumann's Adagio and Allegro in a Monday noon recital

Double bass student, Yang Xun, will be playing Schumann's Adagio and Allegro in a Monday noon recital. Details are as follow:

Mon, 24 Jan 11
12:15 p.m.,
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
Conservatory Concert Hall
Free admission

In addition, during the noon recital, audience could look forward to listen to the following programmes:

BACH
Cello Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012
   I.   Prelude
   II.  Allemande
Lu Bingxia (MUS4) cello

BEETHOVEN
Violin Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 12 No. 2
   I.   Allegro vivace
Monique Lapins (MUS1) violin 
Kerim Vergazov piano

ANTON RUBINSTEIN
Viola Sonata in F minor, Op. 49
   II.  Andante
Lee Yizhi Jonathan (MUS2) viola 
Low Shao Ying piano

HENRI DUTILLEUX
3 Strophes Sur Le Nom De Paul Sacher
   I.   Un poco indeciso
   II.  Andante sostenuto
   III. Vivace
Wei Bing (MUS3) cello

Silver Yuletide by the Joyful Sound

You, your family and friends are cordially invited to "Silver Yuletide" presented by "The Joyful Sound" which is made up of alumni of the NUS Symphony Orchestra. Yours truly will be performing.

17 Dec 2010, Friday.
7.30 p.m. - 8.30 p.m.
Singapore Art Museum, The Chapel, Level 2.
71 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189555
Nearest MRT station: Bras Basah (Circle Line).
Free admission.

"Be treated to an evening of beloved Christmas music, famous ballets scored for an orchestra and more.

The orchestra will play music that will encompass a spectrum of styles and various aspects of Christmas. From hauntingly beautiful melodies that pay homage to that holy night when Christ was born, to wistful and yearning tunes that mourn the passing of each year, to merry and sprightly pieces that embody the lightheartedness of children and the goodwill of mankind, the orchestra celebrates this Yuletide season with the warmth and laughter of family and friends."

The programme:
1. Strauss Jr., Johann, The Gypsy Baron Overture
2. Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite Op. 71a
3. Leroy Anderson's Christmas Festival

To tie in with the spirit of giving, "The Joyful Sound" will be playing in support of the Children's Cancer Foundation (CCF). Brochures will be given out at the concert, where members of the audience may make personal donations directly to the foundation. More details for donation will be released on the concert day itself.

Please walk-in. Free admission to The Chapel throughout the museum's opening hours. Seats will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Standing spaces will be available too.

If you know of anyone who may be interested in the concert, please help to spread the word around. Thank you.

(Admission to the exhibition galleries of the Singapore Art Museum is free from 6 p.m. on all Friday evenings for anyone of you who would like to view the art exhibits for free. http://www.singaporeartmuseum.sg/)

A photo of the Singapore Art Museum taken many months ago.

NAFA Department of Music

Where could students who wish to study the double bass do so in Singapore?

The Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts' Department of Music is one of the options available to students who wish to study music in Singapore. It offers the Diploma in Music (Performance) course which is registered with  Singapore's Ministry of Education. This diploma course has also been approved by the University of Wales as being suitable for credit transfer towards a further one year period of study to achieve a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Music.


Students may opt to choose to learn the double bass as their Principal Study under the Diploma in Music (Performance) programme offered by the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. Here is a YouTube site that gives a glimpse of some of the activities that students of the programme take part in: http://www.youtube.com/nafamusic
 

In addition, the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Department of Music provide a bridging course, known as the Access Course, prepares young musicians who may be lacking in formal qualifications for full-time study in music. The bridging course is available to young musicians who wish to learn the double bass. Please see this website for more details: http://www.nafa.edu.sg/music/in_courses/courses_ac.htm

For more information, please contact:

Music Department
NAFA Campus 3, Wing A
Level 4 (Music Office) Room: C4-08
151 Bencoolen Street
Singapore 189656
Tel: +65 6512 4065
Email: music@nafa.edu.sg
Website: http://www.nafa.edu.sg/music/

The Bass Line

Here is a short piece of news on a double bass related performance in Singapore.

Double bass students of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music will perform an evening recital on the double bass.

The Bass Line
2 Oct 10 (Sat)
7:30 p.m.
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
Conservatory Orchestra Hall
Free admission.

Do make time to support them.

NUSSO Presents (Folk)lórica!

There seems to be a trend for concerts to be given exclusive sounding names. Please do not ask me how to pronounce (Folk)lórica!

Anyway, if I were to put it in accessible language, the NUS Symphony Orchestra will be presenting an outreach concert performing orchestral music inspired by folk tunes and dances on 12 Sep 2010 (Sat). This concert is intended to presented to the public the lighter side of classical music.

Date: 12th Sept 2010 (Sat)
Venue: NUS University Cultural Centre Hall
Time: 6 pm

Georges Bizet | Carmen Suite for Orchestra No. 2
Edvard Grieg | Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46
Yuzu Toyama | Rhapsody for Orchestra
Emmanual Chabrier | España, Rhapsody for Orchestra

Free admission. Tickets will be available at the door from 5pm on a first-come-first-serve basis. Pre-ordering of tickets have been closed.

Source: http://nusso.org/179/nusso-presents-folklorica

CFA House Party 2010

The Centre for the Arts (CFA) will be opening its doors for the biggest party on NUS Kent Ridge campus. In this house party, guests can expect to be treated to performances by the various CFA arts groups. In addition, there will be food to satisfy the palate and the tummy at the Food Paradise bazaar. There will also be exclusive backstage tours of the University Cultural Centre.

Specifically, the NUS Symphony Orchestra will be performing Singaporean composer Kelly Tang’s Sketches of Singapore, an orchestral work that incorporates themes from familiar local tunes in an exciting and colourful medley in celebration of Singapore’s National Day.

CFA House Party, Music Showcase (NUSSO)
Date: 11th August 2010 (Wed)
Venue: University Cultural Centre Theatre
Time: 7.45 pm

Come and listen to us.

(Source: http://nusso.org/155/cfa-house-party-2010)

Adam Ben Enza

Adam Ben Ezra, contrabassist and composer, did an enticing performance that pays tribute to Michael Jackson. I am impressed by the ingenious idea of Adam Ben Enza to record and play all the parts on the double bass, and then mix them together.

Many thanks to Jason Heath for pointing me to this Youtube video on his recent blog post.

More information on Adam Ben Ezra can be found here: http://www.myspace.com/AdamBenEzra