ABIGAIL SIN, piano JONATHAN SHIN, piano JOACHIM LIM, percussion DEREK KOH, percussion _ PROGRAMME JONATHAN SHIN Spools for two pianos and percussion (2021) BARTÓK Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, Sz. 110, BB 115 I. Assai lento – Allegro molto II. Lento, ma non troppo III. Allegro non troppo _ ABOUT THIS EVENT Joachim Lim and Derek Koh from Morse Percussion join forces with pianists Abigail Sin and Jonathan Shin in Bartók’s iconic Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion. This concert will also feature the premiere of a new semi-improvised composition by Jonathan Shin. 12 October 2021 YST Concert Hall #ystmusic #ystconservatory

Emily Koh - Unsaid for amplified viola percussion and Mi.mu Glove (2021) Violist - Christoven Tan Percussionist- Derek Koh Video- Low Jinhong ''All the lingering thoughts that I can no longer say, for the time has passed, you are gone, and I have lost my voice." Emily Koh This was created with the generous support of the National Arts Council Singapore and the Artsfund.

“The Morse Project” is a percussion quintet comprising 4 movements. Each movement utilises morse code, turning it into sources of musical ideas and tools of musical development. Written during the Covid-19 pandemic, the words inspiring each movement are Covid-19 based - Birdcage, Struggle, Adjustment, and New Normal. Despite this, the piece is not necessarily Covid-19 related but follows an emotional journey of anyone escaping and breaking through from a sense of entrapment. Movement 4: New Normal Having come through the entrapment of “Birdcage”, the pain of “Struggle”, and the process of “Adjustment”, the final movement brings the musicians together in a celebration. Every percussionist is featured as a soloist before the music comes to an exuberant end. Composed by Kokjun Phang, featuring dancers Ng Jingwen and Amin Alifin. Video Production by The White Dojo and Audio engineer Brandon Wong. Made possible by the National Arts Council Singapore.

“The Morse Project” is a percussion quintet comprising 4 movements. Each movement utilises morse code, turning it into sources of musical ideas and tools of musical development. Written during the Covid-19 pandemic, the words inspiring each movement are Covid-19 based - Birdcage, Struggle, Adjustment, and New Normal. Despite this, the piece is not necessarily Covid-19 related but follows an emotional journey of anyone escaping and breaking through from a sense of entrapment. Movement 3: Adjustment Starting with body percussions, this movement slowly adjusts to snare drums, forming a transition to the last movement. The morse code of each letter in “Adjustment” forms the main recurring texture of this piece. Composed by Kokjun Phang, featuring dancers Ng Jingwen and Amin Alifin. Video Production by The White Dojo and Audio engineer Brandon Wong. Made possible by the National Arts Council Singapore.

“The Morse Project” is a percussion quintet comprising 4 movements. Each movement utilises morse code, turning it into sources of musical ideas and tools of musical development. Written during the Covid-19 pandemic, the words inspiring each movement are Covid-19 based - Birdcage, Struggle, Adjustment, and New Normal. Despite this, the piece is not necessarily Covid-19 related but follows an emotional journey of anyone escaping and breaking through from a sense of entrapment. Movement 2: Struggle This movement features mostly mallet percussion, exploring the melodic qualities of a percussion ensemble. The morse code is embedded by the marimba playing in a chaconne-like manner, while the rest of the instruments illustrate a sense of struggle through a melancholic tune. Composed by KokJun Phang, featuring dancers Ng Jingwen and Amin Alifin. Video Production by The White Dojo and Audio engineer Brandon Wong. Made possible by the National Arts Council Singapore.

“The Morse Project” is a percussion quintet comprising 4 movements. Each movement utilises morse code, turning it into sources of musical ideas and tools of musical development. Written during the Covid-19 pandemic, the words inspiring each movement are Covid-19 based - Birdcage, Struggle, Adjustment, and New Normal. Despite this, the piece is not necessarily Covid-19 related but follows an emotional journey of anyone escaping and breaking through from a sense of entrapment. Movement 1: Birdcage The sense of entrapment is symbolised in various ways in this movement. There is a recurring gesture in which musical phrases go through diminution, meaning that notes become shorter and shorter as though they are enclosed in a tight space. Moreover, while each musician has multiple pitches of percussions, they are constantly confined to just a central note, with little outbursts as though trying to break free from that centricity. Composed by KokJun Phang, featuring dancers Ng Jingwen and Amin Alifin. Video Production by The White Dojo and Audio engineer Brandon Wong. Made possible by the National Arts Council Singapore.

these broken wings Ensemble Æquilibrium (Singapore) "The three movements of these broken wings concentrate on three different physical and musical challenges. The first movement consists of music that requires incredible stamina and intense concentration. Sad, falling gestures dominate the slow second movement, and I gave the vague but hopefully inspiring instruction that the players should drop things when they are not playing. In the last movement I wanted to make a music that danced and pushed forward, in the hope that it would encourage the musicians to do so as well." —David Lang / Synopsis: Following from their debut concert at SIFA, Ensemble Æqulibrium, led by music director Lien Boon Hua, returns to the digital SIFA stage for the Singapore premiere of American composer David Lang’s these broken wings. Shifting from relentless momentum, to eerie calm and dance-like exuberance, Ensemble Æquilibrium offers a new gaze on this piece, drawing parallels between its three movements and the unimaginable global transformations as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic. Conceived as a dynamic film tableaux, directed by Sean Harrison, the work offers us a moment to reflect on the year passed, through music and image. Note from Ensemble Æquilibrium’s Music Director Lien Boon Hua: David Lang’s these broken wings best embodies my experience of 2020. The first part of the piece is energetic, exciting and relentless - much like the hectic pace of life in Singapore in the pre-COVID world. Individual lines in the first movement don't conform to any pattern, each having its independent and unique trajectory but somehow fitting seamlessly into each other like clockwork. The outbreak of the pandemic placed the world on pause, and I hold a particular nostalgia for the early days of Circuit Breaker to control the spread of the virus. The second part of the piece (passacaille) is an introspective contrast to the first, and much like how the bustling streets were suddenly emptied out and familiar sites were devoid of people, the music is sparse and fragile. For some, this period of lockdowns was claustrophobic, and some saw their lives falling apart, much like the falling objects in this movement unplanned and unexpected. The last part, aptly titled learn to fly, we seek to mend our own broken wings and pulse ahead towards the light at the end of the tunnel with hope. Some things in the world will have to change, so are we looking at it seriously and reflecting upon these fundamental problems? Are vaccines just the temporary band-aid we need to get on with life? Musicians: Carolin Ralser, flute Daniel Yiau, clarinet Gabriel Lee, violin Martin Jaggi, cello Bertram Wee, piano Derek Koh, percussion Lien Boon Hua, conductor Recording Producer: Brandon Wong Director of Photography: Sean Harrison 2nd Camera: Choo Wansy Lighting Designer: Low Wee Cheng / SIFA v2.020 has exciting programmes from today till end December 2020. To find out more, please visit https://sifa.sg #SIFAv2020 #SGCultureAnywhere

Original composition "Dance of the Golden Snake" by Nie Er 《金蛇狂舞》 聶耳作曲 Music for 2 Zhongruans, 1 Daruan and drums 中阮, 大阮与爵士鼓 Zhongruan 中阮: Megan Tan Zhongraun 中阮: Min Hui Koh Daruan 大阮: Jonathan Ngeow Drums 爵士鼓: Derek Koh Produced by Derek Koh Music arranged by Derek Koh Engineered, Mixed, & Mastered by Isaac Marcus Lam Video edited by Sam Driscoll Video filmed by Elwin Lim and Lincoln Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/derekkohwj Instagram: http://instagram.com/derek_koh