Count On Me, Singapore
(arr. 2012)
Instrumentation:
wind ensemble
3.1.4(IV=bcl).1 - 2asax.tsax.barsax - 2.3.3.euph.tuba - perc(6): bd/cym/chim/glock/vib/mar
Duration: 3' 30"
This arrangement of "Count of Me Singapore" reveals the nostalgia of the composer's youthful days growing up in Singapore. The built-in resonance, overlapping textures and poetic orchestration asks for a subtlety in all facets of performance especially of that of clarity of tone and expressive phrasing.
A poem accompanies this personal re-imagination of the National Day tune.
Count the colours
the flag that honours
us almost patriotic
as Rothko might depict
Count the textures I paint
On lines that are faint
Me, esoteric?
some, wildly critic
Counter-melodious answer
serves to deter
or meaningfully suffer
a potpourri of laughter
Count the turning points
On crossroads of life
Meandering over
Singapore river
Country like none other
One to truly savour
Meant to be a world-leader
Singapore would never falter
The score and parts are published by Retsel Mil Publications