PERFORMING ARTS GROUP - SIONG LENG MUSICAL ASSOCIATION
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INTRODUCTION
Siong Leng Musical Association traces its roots back to 1901 when it was first known as the Heng Yun Association and established a reputation as the most active Nanyin (literally “The Music of the South”) group in then-Malaya. Forty years later in 1941, the Siong Leng Musical Association was formed with the aims of preserving, developing and promoting Nanyin and Li Yuan opera.
In the 1970s, the association’s new chairman Teng Mah Seng (1915 – 1992) sought to augment the repertoire by composing several hundred new styles of lyrics which expanded and revolutionised the expressive range of an ancient musical art form. An indefatigable champion of Nanyin, Teng’s efforts to revitalize the art form included the organization of a Southeast Asian Nanyin Conference in 1977. These conferences gave impetus to Nanyin and stimulated a revival of the art in its country of origin: Quanzhou, China.
In 1983 the group participated in the Llangollen Musical Eisteddfod in Wales and won Third Prize in Folk Song Solo and Fourth Prize in Ensemble Performance. Four years later in 1987, Teng received the Cultural Medallion, Singapore’s highest honour for artists, for his work in the field of music.
Yet, despite the recognition and the tireless efforts of its members, Siong Leng Musical Association, not unlike many traditional art societies today, faces the challenge of securing a place for Nanyin and Li Yuan Opera in the modern milieu. As artistic director of Siong Leng Musical Association Lin Shao ling, tells Asia on the Edge 2011: “There is no doubt Nanyin songs and music, being serene and elegant, are reflective of an age where the pace of life is slower and more leisurely. In the 21st century Singapore the pace of life is hectic and fast changing, some may ask where is the place for Nanyin and there is no doubt that here is the challenge of searching for a space for such music.“
Such challenges however in no way displace the relevance of tradition and art form to contemporary society. Rather, the challenges have only spurred the determination of the group to continually search for innovative means to grow audiences for Nanyin.
In fact, that in the first half of 2011 alone Siong Leng Musical Association has already appeared in the Esplanade’s annual festival of sacred music, Tapestry and the Singapore Arts Festival is a testament to both the achievements of the group as well as a continued fascination and demand for Nanyin.
湘灵音乐社简介
湘灵音乐社成立于l941年，是新加坡继承与弘扬中华文化瑰宝－南音与梨园戏之艺术团体。七十年代，由于西风日盛，南音受到冲击而日渐式微，在这关键时刻，商界俊彦丁马成先生出任湘灵音乐社社长，提出并实行了改革南音、重振南音。
1977年，由丁马成先生首倡，湘灵音乐社举办了首届"东南亚南乐大会奏"。八十年代，丁马成先生多次带队参加中国泉州、厦门的南音大会唱，并出访了菲律宾、印尼、马来西亚、日本、香港、台湾等地;1983年，以创新南曲《感怀》一曲夺得了"英国第三十七届兰格冷世界民族音乐及歌乐比赛"民族独唱组第三名;器乐合奏《八骏马》则获得民族乐演奏第四名。为南音在国际乐坛上争得一席之位。
为了使古老的南音得以发扬，培养和积极的吸引年轻一代的南音爱好者，我们发觉到南音必须走进校园，对学生实行传统艺术教育计划，使之在这种族、文化多元实行现代高科技的国家里，领先踏进了音乐教育门栏，成功的把南音带入校园……
在继承与弘扬传统艺术的道路上，我们要抓住艺术本身所拥有的价值和神秘感，去解放那所谓的传统，展示创新风格，寻求新的出路。
