In a somewhat rare opportunity, the Beautiful Sunday concert series this National Day weekend will feature the Lion City Brass Band in not one, but two shows at the Esplanade Concert Hall.
Making its first appearance under conductor Ignatius Wang Kebin, the band will present the regular 3pm show, and also a second 6.30pm show, treating audiences to virtuosic brass music and familiar National Day tunes.
“We are very honoured to be invited by Esplanade to present this special National Day themed concert, which also happens to be the first time a brass band is performing a full concert at the Esplanade Concert Hall,” said Ignatius.
“Even though the programme for both concerts will be similar, we hope to reach out and touch the hearts of every single member of the audience.”
In a National Day themed programme, the band will present present works by Singaporean composers, starting with a special commission written by Dax Wilson Liang for the band in 2018. There will also be two arrangements of “Where I Belong” and “Our Singapore”, by Benjamin Yeo, where members of the audience can sing along with the tunes!
The band will also feature Principal Euphonium, Kang Chun Meng, in the now famous solo work “Variations on Chan Mali Chan” by Lee Jinjun, and specially transcribed for brass band by Erica Goh. Audiences will also get to hear the fast trombone and low brass parts in “Rolling Thunder”, as well as the groovy showpiece, “Under the Boardwalk”, featuring Lim Jit Xin (flugelhorn) and Uvahraaj Anbarasan (Bb Bass).
“Wrapping up the concert is Fire in the Blood by Paul Lovatt-Cooper, a particular favourite of the band and a piece that I am sure will bring the concert to a rousing finale.”
“We will then end off with a performance of our National anthem, Majulah Singapura, specially transcribed for brass band, and an NDP favourite, Stand Up for Singapore!”
Join the Lion City Brass Band at the Esplanade Concert Hall on Sunday, 11 August at 3pm and 6.30pm. Admission is FREE and is on a first come first serve basis.
A contributing editor at TBP.