WANG CHENWEI The Sisters' Islands

“The Sisters’ Islands” is a symphonic poem inspired by a local legend of the Sisters’ Islands south of Singapore, featuring four sections, written by well-known Singaporean composer WANG Chenwei ‪@wangchenwei‬.
This performance was recorded live at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore, on the occasion of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra's National Day Concert, 11 Aug 2018.
The SSO will perform Wang Chenwei's new work, Thaipusam, at our National Day Concert 2022, on 13 Aug 2022. The world premiere will be livestreamed on our TH-cam channel. For more information, please visit: www.sso.org.sg/orchestra-seas...
Closed captions in English and Chinese available in this video. 本录像可开启中英文字幕。
0:00 Interview with the composer, Wang Chenwei.
5:42 - I. Fishing Village
A gong strike opens the piece, and a short duet between the bamboo flute and bassoon introduces the peaceful tropical scenery of Singapore. As the orchestra plays wave-like patterns in the pentatonic Pelog scale, evoking impressions of Indonesian gamelan, the broad “sea” theme is presented by the horn, followed by the violins. Next, the graceful “sisters” theme enters with the bamboo flute, portraying the beautiful young Malay sisters Minah and Linah in an Asli dance. The music then proceeds into a lively Malay Zapin dance depicting the festivities in the village.
11:30 - II. Capture of the Bride
Suddenly, a throng of pirates raids the village, illustrated by the menacing “pirates” theme in a hexatonic scale played by the bass trombone. Their chief, awestruck by Linah’s beauty, intends to abduct her as his bride. A weeping cor anglais solo implores the release of Linah but to no avail as she is dragged away, and a violin solo represents Minah stumbling into the sea to chase after the pirate ship.
13:44 - III. Raging Waves
Bass instruments play a transformed “sea” theme, while rapid octatonic scales and percussion effects depict the stormy sea. A struggling “sisters” theme emerges amidst the chaos as Minah swims after the pirates until she is overcome by exhaustion and disappears amidst the raging waves. Linah struggles to break free of her captors and jumps into the sea to join her sister, represented by a violin solo fading into the depths. This tragedy incurs the wrath of the gods. Thunder and lightning strike, and a giant orchestral wave engulfs the pirate ship. After a long timpani roll, calmness is restored.
15:40 - IV. Spirit of the Sea
In the morning, a conch (seashell) calls out for the sisters’ spirits to rest in peace while an ocarina responds. The “sea” and “sisters” themes are recapitulated and finally played together in counterpoint, building up to a climactic ending as two islands emerge from the sea where the sisters drowned.
Originally composed for the Singapore Chinese Orchestra by WANG Chenwei at age 17, “The Sisters’ Islands” won the “Singapore Composer Award” at the 2006 Singapore International Competition for Chinese Orchestra Composition and was subsequently featured on CD albums by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra and Taiwan Philharmonic Chinese Orchestra.
The composer’s own adaptation for symphony orchestra was premiered by the Orchestra of the Music Makers (Singapore) at Esplanade Theatre on 25 Aug. 2009, with the late President of Singapore, Mr S. R. Nathan as the guest-of-honour. (Programme note by the composer)
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Darrell Ang, conductor
Danny Yeo, master of ceremonies
Abigail Chow, sign language interpreter

[@franciscogualapeirano4135]

MARAVILLOSO, FANTASTICO! Saludos desde Suramérica Uruguay.

[@S_Crystal9217]

Ey! That was very pretty! :D
August is SG's birthday, and what a fantastic way to celebrate!
(Also appreciate the subtitles and the sign language interpreter.)