Pasat Merdu - by Felix Phang

PASAT MERDU* is a theatrical piece that explores the themes of community, love, and multiculturalism in Singapore. The performance opens with a wayang, setting the stage for a community celebration, a celebration that features cultural elements from Chinese, Malay and Indian music, such as the Madhuvanti raga, Tihai, Inang and more. The celebration also includes an interaction section that symbolizes the importance of connection between individuals and communities, as commonly found in folk idioms.
The next section delves into the theme of love and support, highlighting the importance of family, loved ones, and friends during difficult times. The section features Gildon on Pipa, warmly embraced by the orchestra.
The final section celebrates everything around us, our multi-cultural Singapore, with sounds that are uniquely familiar to Singaporeans. The piece aims to evoke nostalgia and a sense of belonging through the sounds of our community. The performance closes with the wayang motif, but the Singapore story is still in the writing.
The message of PASAT MERDU is for Singaporeans to stay close and connected to each other, through life experiences and cultures. PASAT MERDU encourages audiences to embrace the rich cultural diversity of Singapore and celebrate the things that make us unique.
*PASAT MERDU
/ˌ pɑ ˈ sɑt/ - A colloquial Hokkien (Chinese dialect) word that means marketplace, specifically the wet market in Singapore context. Borrowed from the Singapore Mandarin equivalent “ba sha 巴刹”, which in turn borrowed from the Malay term “pasar”.
/ˈmərdu/ - Bahasa Melayu (Malay) for melodious. Derived from Sanskrit. The wet market was where people of all ethnicities would congregate for daily necessities. Amidst a cacophony of languages and the bustle of life, the interaction of cultures allowed Singapore to develop our unique identity, one that is still evolving with the times. We love how the various languages spoken in Singapore have borrowed words from each other. It shows how we have adapted to get along. In this same spirit, we explore musically the richness of our cultures.
All are welcome at Pasat Merdu - a melodious marketplace. (Notes by the composer, Felix Phang)
Pasat Merdu is an SSO Commission and this world premiere was recorded live at the Esplanade Concert Hall, 13 Aug 2023 at the Temasek Foundation SSO National Day Concert.
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Members of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra ‪@snyosg‬
The Straits Ensemble ‪@thestraitsensemblesingapore‬
Tianhui Ng, conductor
Lily Goh, Deaf Artist-Performer
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, suspended cymbal, snare drum, bass drum, glockenspiel, marimba, piano, oud, pipa, tabla (doubling on windchimes, frame drum, pandeiro), rebana (doubling on shaker), upright bass, strings.
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FELIX PHANG (b. 1983)
Singaporean composer/musician Felix Phang grew up playing symphonic band music and discovered jazz at Berklee College of Music.
An independent artist navigating tradition, change and a confluence of cultures, he seeks to make sense of his environment by exploring the cultural musical landscape of Singapore with a suite of music composed around the themes of ‘diversity’ and ‘relationships’ for ensembles comprising of various folk instruments. Inspired by The Silk Road Project, Phang is motivated to share culture through composition, performance and education.
Phang has performed and presented his works at international music festivals and both 2017 & 2019 International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers Symposium clinics facilitated by Grammy winner and nominees, Billy Childs, Bill Frisell and Ron Miles.
Phang currently heads the 150-strong Music & Drama Company (MDC), producing both live and digital content for Singaporeans and high-profile government events. He holds an adjunct position at LASALLE College of the Arts, and mentors young writers in his own time. For leisure and inspiration, Phang indulges in pottery at his compact home studio. (felixphang.com)
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The Straits Ensemble is a musical collective that champions Singapore cultural music
exchanges, influenced by the ever-changing global music landscape and jazz sensibilities. Performing in the Temasek Foundation SSO National Day Concert 2023:
Eugene Ang, piano
Felix Phang, double bass
Gildon Choo, pipa
Azrin Abdullah, oud
Nizarfauzi, rebana
Govin Tan, tabla
Cover photo by Chris P. Lim

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