SINGAPORE — Commonly known as wayang here, Chinese opera has for several decades played a prominent role in the local community.

Brought here by Chinese immigrants, it has for nearly a thousand years been performed in China in different dialects and evolved over the years by folding in numerous artistic forms into its performances, including music, drama, dance and even martial arts.

But today, it finds itself left behind by a digital generation, out of the mainstream eye as a sideshow during Chinese festivals.

One traditional association in Singapore has made strides to preserve the artform while adapting performances for modern consumption.

The Siong Leng Musical Association is one of the only three recognised music bodies left in Singapore that continue to perform southern Chinese Nanyin music and Liyuan opera.

A shot from one of Siong Leng's performances. Image: siong leng musical association

Chinese opera 101: Nanyin and Liyuan

Nanyin translates to "The Music of the South" and is a style of Chinese classical music that originated from Fujian, China.

During the Han dynasty, it was performed as court music, and is considered as one of the oldest musical art forms in the world.

A typical Nanyin ensemble consists of five instruments: a pie (a wooden clapper played by the singer); pipa (four-stringed lute); erxian (two-stringed fiddle); siau (vertical flute); and sanxian (long-neck lute covered in snake skin.

Image: SIONG LENG MUSICAL ASSOCIATION

Together with Nanyin, Liyuan opera is also from Fujian, so it's traditionally performed in the Hokkien dialect.

Liyuan opera storylines are traditionally derived from Chinese folklore and incorporates traditional musical instruments with acrobatics.

Keeping a precious artform alive for today

Despite being able to trace its roots back to 1901, and having won numerous accolades in the 20th century, premier associations like Siong Leng struggle to appeal to millennials.

Siong Leng's artistic director, Lin Shaoling, told Mashable: "The younger generation looks at Nanyin like it's an antique that they can't understand."

Some of the young musicians in the association. Image: Siong Leng Musical association

Over the years, it's started to recruit new and younger talents, and performances are done in the lingua franca of Mandarin Chinese, not dialects which are typically spoken by the older generation.

It's also included non-Chinese instruments like Indian drums and the cello, and the Liyuan plotlines have been broadened beyond folklore.

"We're slowly but surely starting to revive this traditional art form again," said Lin.

Image: SIONG LENG MUSICAL ASSOCIATION

Siong Leng is also taking on new performance venues, away from the traditional stage. It's set to play at the upcoming Getai Soul event, which will bring it on the same stage as soul and R&B performers in the island state.

"We might be out of our element up on a stage where the other performances are hip and trendy, but the sincerity of the organisers is in line with our own sincerity and passion for Nanyin and Liyuan," Lin said.

Image: SIONG LENG MUSICAL ASSOCIATION







Catch Siong Leng Musical Association's performance at Getai Soul 2016 on May 8. Tickets are available for purchase at getaisoul2016.peatix.com.

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