Thursday May 21, 2009
Soulful music from The Canticle Singers
By SHARMILLA GANESAN
Whether its gospel, pop, jazz or classical, The Canticle Singers tackle music with charm and commitment.
RODGERS AND Hammerstein classics, Abba hits, Sweeney Todd numbers and Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, all in the same show? Talk about covering a lot of ground in one night, especially for a choral group.
The Canticle Singers (TCS), however, defy your expectations of what a traditional choir should be. Established in 1992 by its current musical director H.K. Chong, the interdenominational choir is known not just for its soulful sound, but also for its willingness to tackle diverse genres like folk, pop, rock, jazz, gospel and Broadway.
Chong sees this versatility as one of the TCS’s strengths. “Diversity helps you develop. While spiritual numbers are an important part of our repertoire, there are also a lot of songs that give hope, joy, comfort or are simply fun or nonsensical. These songs make us accessible to everyone. All music is ultimately our service to God,” he says.
It is TCS’s wide-ranging appeal that attracts its younger members, who are more likely to have grown up listening to pop, R&B and hip hop.
“It’s so much fun!” shares Phoebe Tan Yan-Xin, 20. “There are people of so many ages in the choir, and we really get to learn and share each others’ favourite numbers. It helps us appreciate music that we might not have listened to otherwise.”
Sing along: Joanne Poh (seated) rehearsing with (from left) Timothy Au Ming Shern, Christopher Sam, Sarah Yong Chi Yen, Keilly Lim May Harn and Phoebe Tan Yan-Xin . Dubbed the “Brat Pack” by Chong, these youths are valued in the choir not just for their voices, but also for their willingness to commit to TCS’s strict work ethic.
TCS artistic director Chin San Sooi says the level of discipline and work expected from its members is lacking in many young people today.
“They need to be self-reliant and learn to work for the good of the whole team. The youth of today have so many other elements tugging at them for attention, which leaves very few people with the commitment we need,” says Chin.
The TCS young singers, however, seem well aware of their responsibilities.
“You’re part of a group, you’re not just performing for yourself,” says Christopher Sam, 21, who has been singing with the choir only since last year. “If you don’t pull your own weight, by preparing yourself with your notes for example, you let everyone down.”
Sarah Yong Chi Yen, 18, says the TCS requires a high level of commitment. “We need to attend every rehearsal session, and be punctual. Plus, we also need to juggle it with our studies.”
So is all the effort worth it? The answer from the so-called Brat Pack is a resounding yes. “I love being able to move the audience by performing, to make them laugh, or feel sad. It’s a great feeling,” says Sarah, also a newcomer. “I also really like that we can reach out to people of all faiths and backgrounds.”
Timothy Au Ming Shern says singing with TCS lets him explore his love for all sorts of music. Having performed in last year’s show, A Grand Night for Singing, he is thrilled to be doing it again. “Whether it’s gospel, pop, jazz or classical, it’s all good with me. Being with TCS really exposes you to all those genres and more,” enthuses the 17-year-old.
The choir’s upcoming show, Be Our Guest, will showcase a style inspired by The Philippine Madrigal Singers – the 19 singers will be sitting together onstage for a more intimate and relaxed performance that emphasises vocal purity and harmony.
Featuring guest soloist Tan Wei Han, the performance will include about 18 numbers from the 1950s to the present, such as The Winner Takes it All (by Abba) from Mamma Mia, Baba Yetu from computer game Civilization IV, Wind Beneath My Wings from hit film Beaches, Nella Fantasia from the epic movie The Mission, and a Sweeney Todd suite.
“The performance will be a breath of fresh air,” says Yong. “Come and watch it, and you’ll be surprised at how much fun you can have at a choral performance.”
Be Our Guest will be staged on May 30 and 31 at 8.30pm, at Auditorium Perdanasiswa, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. Tickets priced at RM58 and RM78, are available through the Axcess hotline ( 03-77115000), website (axcess.com.my) and all Axcess outlets.
Watch the show!
THE Canticle Singers want you to be their guest and are giving away 40 tickets to students for their upcoming show. All you have to do is answer a couple of questions and email them to thecanticlesingers@gmail.com by May 25. To find the answers, got to the TCS website (thecanticle singers.com). The first 20 respondents with correct answers will each receive two free tickets to the concert preview on May 29 at 8.30pm.
Question 1: What is the name of famous composer who said “The aim and final reason of all music should be nothing else but the Glory of God and the refreshment of the spirit”?
Question 2 : In 2008, The Canticle Singers staged the musical A Grand Night for Singing. Name the theatre and venue where it was performed.
Don’t forget to include your full name, IC number, name of school/college (attach a scanned copy of your student ID), contact number email address.
Winners will be notified by TCS.
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