MAR K CHAN...Dear Mr Chan, My husband and I have attended many Arts Festival performances-Cesaria...

M A R K C H A N

All Rights Reserved, National Library Board, Singapore

I Write music for myself.

The music I myself need to hear as I live in a world gone crazy.


Music Without Borders 無介音乐 Musique Sans Frontières

M A R K C H A NComposer / Musician / Writer


Mark Chan is one of Singapore's premier composers.

A singer/multi-instrumentalist/poet and painter in his own right, his unique combination of

East and West shows in the fact that he trained for 9 years in classical Chinese bamboo flute

and also 7 years as a Western Counter-tenor

His musical career spans a good 19 years and is surprising for its constant freshness and

reinvention of a very distinctive style established bacl< in the 80s and refined and matured up

till the present day. It is a seamless, thoroughly integrated blend of Asian and Western,

traditional and modern, classical, pop and avant-garde, that always retains its primal beauty

through his distinctive and memorable melodies and his cutting harmonies.

Recording & TV : Mark has released 7 solo albums under various labels: Warner (WEA), Polygram, BMG,

Hori Productions (Japan) in styles ranging from pop/adult contemporary to world music

and Asian healing. The album China Blue (released by BMG) received very high accolades

and was chosen Best Song of the last 10 years in Singapore in ] 999.

IVIark has performed extensively as a solo artist on TV and the stage in Singapore, Hong

Kong and also Japan. He has also represented Singapore at various song festivals, entering

the finals in the first Voice of Asia Contest in 1994.

He has produced albums and songs for some of Asia's top pop stars: e.g. Tracy Huang and

Andy Lau. He has hosted two series of TV shows for Singapore TV - both immensely

popular, introducing the lost, funny and interesting aspects of Singaporean life; "Common

Threads" and "Retro Trek".

Theatre: His contribution to the development of theatre in Singapore and across Asia is one of his

most significant bodies of work. He was appointed Composer-in-residence at Theatreworks

for 10 years (1989-1999) and, in addition, has composed, directed and recorded music for

over 30 plays working with top directors, theatre companies and performers from Singapore

and the rest of the world (China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong)

The plays he has scored have been both in English, as well as in Chinese, Malay, Japanese

(see appendix).

Many of these theatre productions have toured internationally, e.g. Madam Mao's Memories

(Edinburgh Festival), 3 Children (Japan, Singapore, Malaysia), Lear (Japan, Hong

Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, Germany, Denmark).

TV scoring: National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel, Singapore TV Japan - NHK.


RECENT WORK:

5 years back, Mark decided to return to more classical/ "serious" contemporary music and

has created 4 ground-breaking major works over the past 3 years;

Ref/ections On War, Reflections On Peace - Photopoems

Commissioned by the Singapore Heritage Board for the permanent war

museum at Bul<lt Chandu. The 2 pieces are photopoems using a striking

combination of photographs, text and music to comment on both present

day reality and the fragility of peace and also looking back on the horrors and

bravery of the 2nd World War, with specific reference to Singapore.

Little Toys - Silent Film Scoring

Silent Film scoring (2003 Hong Kong Arts Festival & 2003 Singapore

Arts Festival - Main Programme Highlight In both festivals)

A co-commission from the Hong Kong and the Singapore Arts Festivals, it is

the first serious and full-scale scoring of a 1930s silent b/w film from China

ever created. Again, using Mark's trademark blend of Western and Chinese

classical instruments (cello, erhu, pipa, guanzi, piano, percussion) it has been

hailed a milestone In the moving forward of Asian music.

It opened to resounding response in Hong Kong and followed suit in Singapore

and also toured to Copenhagen in the same year Talks are now underway to

bring the production to Paris.

Email & Eternity

Commissioned by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, this unusual full-length

piece stretches the boundaries of the Chinese classical ensemble, taking the

analogy of modern air-travel and using that to reveal the hidden spirituality of

modern life. Strongly modal and mathematical in style, the music is never

overwhelmed by the intellectual aspects.

Talks are in progress with record companies about the release of the live

recording of this work.

OPIUME - A Modern Chamber Opera

(Co commissioned; Singapore Arts Festival 2004, Hong Kong New Vision

Arts Festival 2004 - Main programme highlight)

This modern chamber opera was Mark most ambitious work so far He was

responsible for both the libretto and the music and, together with Casey Lim,

was co-creator of the production.

Inspired by the events of the illicit opium trafficking that took place in China in

the 19th century, the opera is a modern view of not only what took place but

also a comment on how we live our lives now: the difficulties of cultural

interaction, the power play, the dangers and seduction of drug use and also

the harsh reality of economic trade and imbalance.


Some quotes from reviews of Mark's work:

China Blue: "Chan's music breathes serenity and contemplation... it captures a feeling and

haunts with its melody. Integrating Chinese, iVIalay, Japanese and Western sounds,

Chan hits his mark effortlessly.... real World Music!"

Philip Cheah, BigO (Singapore's premier music magazine)

"His flaunting, sinuous compositions make the

difference between a cerebral abstract play and a

personal gut-level experience in the theatre."

Hannah Pandian,

theatre reviewer. Straits Times

The Other Actor: 'The Other Actor is an indication of

strong composing talent...It's a big

step forward for Southeast Asian

aesthetics."

8 Days Magazine

Travelling Under The Light Of The Full Moon : "Chan has perfected his wor ld of colliding sounds....pop transformed Into reflective,

inspirational music. . . It heals, it's singer-songwriter soul."

"For a long time now, we have wondered about the Singapore sound.... What is it that

makes it both local and international Chan's trilogy of albums (China Blue, Nature Boy

& Travelling Under The Light Of The Full Moon) achieves that through sheer feeling...."

Phil ip Cheah, BigO


Dear Mr Chan, My husband and I have at tended many Arts Festival

performances-Cesaria Evora, the French National Orchestra,

the Hagen Quartet, Yundi Li-and as much as we thought we

would LIKE Little Toys, we did not expect it to so thoroughly

trounce, in our opinion, all of the other performances we

had attended. The film itself was a revelation, and your music

was sublime. With my most sincere appreciation.

Jacqueline Deley

"Mark is an exceptionally talented Singaporean, I have long admired his

songwriting skills, his singing and, more recently, his compositions for

the Chinese flute."

Professor Tommy Koh, Chairman, Singapore National Arts Council

"Mark's music fuses a variety of influences into one brilliant and expressive voice,

rich with lyrical beauty. The score he wrote for my plays displays a mastery of

theatrical technique, and also stands as engaging listening all on its own. Mr

Chan is undoubtedly one of the emerging talents on the world music scene. "

David Hwang, playwright of M Butterfly

Pho

tos:

Hon

g K

ong A

rts

Fes

tival

200

3


Appendix

Mark Chan - Theatre Music director and Composer for these productions

DAVID HWANG DOUBLE BILL Theatreworks, Feb 1990 Directed by Ong Keng Sen

A N D THE FUNNY OLD TREE Directed by Koh Pau Kun

TRIP TO THE SOUTH Theatreworks, Written by Filipino Playwright Tony Perez, Aug 1991 directed by Nonon Padilla (Philippines)

THE DAY 1 MET THE PRINCE Practice Performing Arts, First run in July 1989, touring Singapore schools every year for the past seven years, represented Singapore at the Cairo International Festival in Sep 93

OZONE Written by Indonesian playwright & director Arifin Noer, produced by Theatreworks in Nov 1991, directed by Arifin Noer

MADAM MAO'S MEMORIES Theatreworks, directed by Ong Keng Sen, first run 1991, Re-run in 1992, And then in the 92 Edinburgh Festival of Arts

PRIVATE PARTS Theatreworks, Singapore Arts Festival 1992, directed by Ong Keng Sen

LAO JIU Theatreworks, first run April 93, 2nd run in 94 in Singapore and at the Perth Festival of Arts, 3rd run in Singapore in 1997, written by Koh Pau Kun

MERGERS & ACCUSATIONS Theatreworks, July 1993, directed by Rani Moorthy & Ong Keng Sen

UNDER THE BED Theatreworks and One Yellow Rabbit (Canada), Dance-Drama directed by Denise Clarke & Blake Brooker, 1993

SCORPION ORCHID Theatreworks, for 1994 Singapore Arts Festival, directed by Krishen Jit (Malaysia)

THE GYPSIES Theatreworks, 1987, Directed by William Teo

THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE Practice Performing Arts, December 1987, directed by Koh Pau Kun

MEDEA Asia in Theatre Research Circus April 1988, directed by William Teo

THREE CHILDREN Theatreworks, 1988 Directed by Ong Keng Sen & Krishen Jit, rerun in 1992 in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur Tokyo and Yokohama

THE ROBBERS FROM NUTMET T O W N A Children's musical in Mandarin, Practice Performing Arts, Nov 1988, Directed by Lin Renyu, Re-run Aug 1993, 2nd re-run 1998

MOTHER COURAGE Asia in Theatre Research Circus May 1989, directed by William Teo

GRAVEYARD SHIFT Action Theatre, August 1989 Directed by Ekerchai

TRINE Action Theatre, First run June 1990 Re-run October 1990

THE SILLY LITTLE GIRL Practice Performing Arts, Sep 1990


THE FLOATING WORLD Black Swan Theatre (Perth Australia) & State Theatre of South Australia, for 1995 Festival of Perth, toured Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane the same year Directed by Andrew Ross

ASIAN PERFORMERS WORKSHOP 1

Theatreworks & Japan Foundation Nov - Dec 1997, participants: traditional master musicians and composers from Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, China and Singapore

LEAR Japan Foundation & Theatreworks, (music director and joint composer and performer) Pan-Asian reworking of Shakespeare's play, with performers from China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, directed by Ong Keng Sen, premiered in Tokyo, toured Osaka and Fukuoka in Dec 97 - Jan 98. Toured Hong Kong, Djakarta, Singapore and Perth in January/February 1999. Teater der Welt in Berlin and Summer Theatre Festival in Copenhagen in June/July 1999.

ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION Theatreworks, February 1998, directed by Nora Samosir

KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN Singapore Repertory Theatre, directed by Tony Petito, February 1998

ART Singapore Repertory Theatre, directed by Ivan Heng, Sep - Oct 1998, Singapore Premier

M BUTTERFLY Singapore Repertory Theatre, directed by Tony Petito, April 1999.

HAUNTED - the Musical Lyrics & Music: Mark Chan Playwright: Ovidia Yu Directed by Casey Lim Produced by Theatreworks Singapore Premier: July/August 1999.

A PERFECT GANESH Singapore Repertory Theatre January 2000


I don't believe I am so different from other people.

It is, therefore, a constant hope that sharing my music fills other people's deep needs

And longing and inner space too. And that it is enjoyable.


With support from

NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL SINGAPORE

Mark Chan Singapore:

9 Taman Serasi #04-09 Singapore 257720 Tel: +65 96600788

Paris: 31 Rue du Repos

Paris 75020 France

Tel: +33 6 12030045 +33 I 43728048

[email protected] [email protected] www.markchan.com

Singapore Administrator for Mark Chan:

Jeremiah Choy Orangedot Productions Pte Ltd

24 Hooper Road Singapore 229201 Tel: +65 65344828

Email: [email protected]

All Rights Reserved. Copyright © Mark Chan 2006. Materials included in this portfolio are for demonstration only.


mailto:[email protected]


http://www.markchan.com


Mark Chan Singapore:

9 Taman Serasi #04-09 Singapore 257720 Tel: +65 96600788

Paris: 31 Rue du Repos

Parrs 75020 France

Tel:+33 6 12030045 +33 1 43728048

[email protected] [email protected]

vwvw.markchan.com




http://vwvw.markchan.com

M A R K C H A N Sampler of Previous Albums &

Other Work

Music/Lyrics/Production: Mark Chan

copyright Mark Chan 2006, sample only, no unauthorized duplication, public performance or sale


MAR K CHAN...Dear Mr Chan, My husband and I have attended many Arts Festival performances-Cesaria...

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