“There is music wherever there is rhythm, as there is life wherever there beats a pulse.”
— Igor Stravinsky
The Covid-19 pandemic took the world by storm, and almost brought the world to a halt. Despite this adversity, it does not stop musicians from creating music. Given the changing situation globally, members of the arts community have been spreading messages of positivity online. Music provides happiness and relief, and lifts spirits in such tumultuous times.
Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) Executive Director, Nominated Member of Parliament Terence Ho said: "With the 100 over online concerts created, SCO hopes to spread positivity and add wellbeing to the community. Our music strives to be the engine of togetherness and collective sense-making for everyone.”
SCO Resident Conductor Quek Ling Kiong assembled a group of 55 individuals versed in percussion instruments to cheer Singapore on. These musicians include SCO musicians, Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra members and freelance musicians, as well as members of the various local music groups: A Bigger Bang Percussion, Ding Yi Music Company, Drum Feng, Drum Sprouts, Nadi Singapura Ltd, Nam Hwa Teochew Music Ensemble, Ogen Heartbeats, Orkestra Sri Temasek, Reverberance, Siong Leng Musical Association, Tamagoh Productions, Temple of Fine Arts, The Percussion Assembly, The Purple Symphony, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory, and ZingO Main Team (arranged in alphabetical order).
As Singapore emerge stronger from this Circuit Breaker, this 3-minute long music video was launched today (30 May 2020) and shared on the various SCO social media platforms. This music piece was based on "SINGAPORE", and participating musicians were also seen cheering Singaporeans on with their upbeat energy, contagious laughter and bright smiles. This community music project is supported by the National Arts Council and is part of #SGCultureAnywhere campaign.
(Screenshot from Tutti Singapore video)
Mr Quek shared, “Musicians from all walks of life, with the youngest at 5 years old and the oldest at 65 years old, come together to support Singapore, and at the same time, showcase our various cultures. 2020 also marks the 55th year of nation building for Singapore, and therefore 55 musicians were gathered for this inclusive music community project – Tutti Singapore.”
Although music knows no bounds, the video also features the sign language for our hearing-impaired friends. Mr Quek has been working tirelessly with musicians with special needs over many years; he conducts and directs Singapore’s largest inclusive orchestra – The Purple Symphony, and Hong Kong’s largest inclusive Orchestra – True Colours Symphony.
“For Tutti Singapore, we wanted to include everyone in this community, together with people around the world to cheer for an uplifting spirit. We have included percussionists who are blind and deaf, and therefore, sign language naturally plays a critical part of our production! It is a cheer not only for everyone in Singapore, but also for the world!
“Tutti means play together in musical term;
this signifies the importance of all humanity coming together as one to fight the pandemic,
to rebuild new lives, and to continue the heartbeat of our future!”
-Quek Ling Kiong, SCO Resident Conductor
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