Then Nyuk Chung shares insights on Chinese orchestra
MIRI: Once in a while, you may come across an opportunity to enjoy a Chinese orchestra.
The beautiful and soft sounds from strings plucked to ‘GuQin’, a seven- string Chinese long zither, harmoniously played along with ‘Gu Zheng’, another type of Chinese zither with 21- strings; ‘ Pipa’ ( Necked Bowl Lute); ‘ Er Hu’, a two- stringed bowed musical instrument and eight other different instruments including drums, produce a mesmerising musical performance that are not to be missed.
But do you know that it is harder to obtain the scores for Chinese orchestra than the Western piano score sheets.
Meet Then Nyuk Chung, the only Chinese orchestra composer in Miri, who turned a lot of pop songs into harmonious sounds.
“Usually the score sheets used in Chinese orchestra are either bought from mainland China or Singapore, these score sheets are usually comprised of traditional music ensemble in China, so you could imagine the usual stuffs played by Chinese traditional instruments.
“However, there is a need for a modern orchestra performance, therefore I would try my best to turn the pop music from Mandopop singers like Jay Chow, folk music, and even popular songs of these decades from other languages into beautiful sounds of orchestra.
“There is a demand for younger, livelier music rather than the old lullaby that could put the audience to sleep. Hence, the effort,” Then told The Borneo Post in an interview recently.
In a complete set of an orchestra, Then said there are at least 12 instruments used in performance. So, for every song he composed, he would have to compose score sheets for every instrument.
“I would start out with the main instruments — Gu Qin, Gu Zheng, Er Hu before proceeding to the rest. I could say that those who have a very good foundation using these instruments can actually try their hands in composing score sheets.
“Of course, it is not a one-time c omp l e t e work, I have to keep playing the score sheets by myself, fully focus on the sounds and the difference it makes for one instrument than other.”
When he’s able to gather his students, he would get them to play the raw piece before amending it to perfection.
“We had a lot of interesting moments testing the scores, which I do hope my students could learn a thing or two. I would also hope that this could instil their interest to compose score sheets,” he said.
Despite modernisation and technology advancement, Then who founded Chung Yii Chinese Music Institute was happy that a lot of parents encouraged their children to learn Chinese instruments at age as young as five years.
Then came to Miri from his hometown Kuching in 1970s to lead a team of local Chinese orchestra.
“During that time, the team was like ‘chicken without head’, whereby no one person with professional background led them. I was introduced to them and everything progressed from there since.”
In between the period right before 1986, he also taught orchestra in Bintulu and Sibu.
The growing number of students had him set up a Chinese orchestra troupe for students from Riam Road Secondary School and Pei Min Middle School.
“The passion shown by students at the time, and the growing number had encouraged us to do something — to create awareness of Chinese musical culture, and we did a tour in Sarawak, which we
started form Miri to Sibu, Bintulu, Sri Aman and Kuching.”
In 1986, Then Nyuk Chung decided to settle in Miri for good and he set up Chung Yii Chinese Music Institute with his wife.
Compared to Western musical instrument, Then said it is harder for Chinese orchestra to survive, as they lack proper teachers and work opportunity.
“It was easy to look for a piano teacher, but it was almost impossible to find a teacher specialising in Chinese instruments. For students from independent Chinese schools, they could participate in their school’s orchestra troupe. How what about those who are in government school?” Then asked.
Hence, his persistence in maintaining his music institute bore fruit when he saw a lot of students who follow in his footsteps.
“Those who had passion in Chinese instrument would go on pursuing further study in a foreign university. Whilst those who stay locally, would either choose to continue to upper level or are simply forgotten due to other commitments. Either way, it is not my right to criticise, because the choice is in their hands. At least they had the foundation, should they pick up the instruments again,” he said.
On a yearly basis, Then’s institute would receive visits from jurors representing Shanghai Music Academy and University of West London. The jurors will be the ones conducting exams on students before they proceed to the higher level.
Then’s students also often perform at various occasions by invitation from schools, associations and corporate dinners.
“These opportunities give them a boost of confidence. They can learn a lot during the performance and more importantly, the team spirit — because team work and tolerance can produce harmonious sounds.”
Then’s students will be performing at the 14th Miri Trade Fair ( MITRAF14) on April 1 at Bintang Megamall from 8pm to 10pm.
Among the songs they will be performing are Jay Chow’s popular songs — ‘ Hong Chen Ke Zhan’ ( Red Inn) and ‘Qing Hua Chi’ ( Green Flower Porcelain) — Taiwan and China folk songs and also ‘ Dae Jang Geum’, a South Korean folk song made popular by television series ‘Jewel in the Palace’ aired in 2004.
The orchestra performance is one of the highlights for this year’s event organised by See Hua Marketing, Miri branch.