Synopsis:

A 60 to 70 min programme that involves Chinese chamber music with newly commissioned original works that are inspired by Chinese handicrafts (手工艺). In this concert, Ding Yi has selected to showcase the following two types of handicrafts:

• Giant Joss Stick Making (大香制作)

• Embroidery (刺绣)

The programme aims to be a musical journey of revisiting, reminiscing and reinterpreting the disappearing cultural heritage of Singapore focusing on Chinese handicrafts. The selected Chinese handicrafts were once in abundance during the 60s and 70s in Singapore. Ding Yi hopes to revisit the origins, pre-event activities, rituals and related music during such occasions, and most importantly, the values inculcated within these practices. Similar to Chinese chamber music, these handicrafts are deeply rooted within our Chinese traditions, heritage and customs.

Each handicraft is closely related to its dialectal influence, which we will draw our musical inspiration from. We aim to include musical elements which resemble the music used in customary practices of the past. For example, strong ethnic folk and opera musical elements such as the stylistic composition methods of Teochew traditional music and lion dance drumming techniques may be used.