Count On Me, Singapore
(arr. 2012/2022)
Instrumentation:
wind band
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"
Originally composed by Hugh Harrison for the 1986 National Day Parade, this was re-arranged for the Singapore Wind Symphony (SWS), under the late Adrian Tan.
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 the clarity in 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 (2012 version)