Malaysia/Singapore Tour
(November 2005)
Singapore concert
Concert Repertoire
Meeting Pay Foong Band
The Medan Band joined the Pay Foong Secondary concert band and the Catholic High Concert Band in Malacca (Malaysia) for their annual school concert. The massed bands played two pieces before performing separately. Here is a picture taken of part of the Medan Band percussion section (in red and blue T-shirts) during one of the intensive joint rehearsals just days before the concert. At the beginning of the concert, we exchanged gifts with the representatives of Pay Foong band. Our gift to them was a photograph of the Medan Band with the signatures of all band members on it. The greeting read "Kami senang memainkan dengan anda"! (We enjoyed playing with you!).
Here is a picture of the full band tuning up before our concert in Singapore on November 18, 2005. It was held at the Salvation Army's Bishan auditorium.
And here is 12-year old Eben playing his solo accompanied by the band. A hit with audiences (especially the girls!) in both Malacca and Singapore, Eben plays remarkably well for someone of his age.
We also had a quartet made up of four of the younger boys. They chose their own music (not listed below).
Although the timing of the visit to Malaysia and Singapore did not allow the band to meet as many Malaysian and Singaporean musicians as we had initially hoped, the tour was an outstanding success. Everywhere the band played, audiences expressed surprise at the standard the band had achieved. This was especially so given the lack of access to well qualified music teachers in Medan, as well as that city's relative isolation from the Western musical mainstream.
Here is a list of the repertoire the band played. Those familiar with Salvation Army brass band music may like to compare it with the sort of pieces we played in November 2004 to get some idea of the extent to which the band progressed in the intervening 12 months. As you can see, I have tried to get the band to play music encompassing a wide range of musical styles.
Band Signature Tune
I love Thy Kingdom James Anderson
Concert Works
Be Valiant and Strong Ray Bowes
Gospel Train David Jones
Rondeau J. Mouret (Arr. Peter Graham)
Swing/Jazz Works
It's a Great Day Trevor Worthington
Smile Douglass Kiff (Arr. Leonard Ballantine)
Moses James Cheyne
Just a Closer Walk Eiliv Herikstad
Indonesian Folk Songs
Salute to Medan Noel Jones
Piso Surit Arr. Bruce Gale
Tano Niha Arr. Bruce Gale
Solos/Duets
Happy Harmony Dean Goffin
God Cares James Curnow
His Wonderful Love Chris Mallet
Marches
Freedom Ray Steadman-Allen
Fill the World With Music Erik Silverberg
Hymn Tune Settings
Burning, Burning William Himes
Crown Him Lord of All Wilfred Kitching
