root 
How did you spend your recess week? Personally, I had the opportunity to attend NTU Chinese Orchestra’s (NTUCO) annual concert, called “Transient Reminiscences”. The theme of AY24/25’s Transient Reminiscence was “Strings of Serendipity” (情牵新缘), held on the evening of 9 March 2025 at the prestigious Singapore Conference Hall, which was packed to the brim with audience members. Join me as I recount the captivating compositions that were showcased that night.
The central theme of the concert was the Chinese concept of《缘》(yuán), one that is not so easily translatable.《缘》is similar to the concept of serendipity, but it also emphasises the invisible strings that tie people together — as you walk through life, everyone you cross paths with is someone you were destined to meet. Fittingly, each piece in the concert is dedicated to a relationship of some kind.
NTU CO opened with a piece titled《笛缘》(dí yuán). “笛” refers to the two flutes that play the melody, with “缘” being the aforementioned concept of fate. 《笛缘》is a duet between two flutes, one representing a teacher, and the other his student. The kinship between the duetists, Song Yiping and Gabrielle Woo, was well-represented by the flutes. Furthermore, Wang Chenwei, who composed the piece, was in the audience that night to witness his work being played — truly a moment that encapsulated《缘》.
The second piece of the night was the Pipa concerto《西双版纳的晚霞》(xī shuāng bǎn nà dè wǎn xiá) by Zhou Chenglong, translated to Sunset Glow of Xishuangbanna. Xishuangbanna is an autonomous Chinese prefecture rich in cultural heritage. Home to the Dai people, the prefecture is known for its natural biodiversity and Buddhist temples. The entire work has three movements, and NTUCO showcased the first and last. The first movement (“The Autumn Sunset”) featured soloist Lindy Lim’s fluttering Pipa notes — a prelude to the setting of the sun. However, though the sun had sailed beyond the horizon, the celebration of Xishuangbanna was only just beginning. The last movement, “Bonfire After the Sunset” erupted in a fanfare, celebrating the Dai people’s passion for the natural world.
Before the intermission, we were treated to NTUCO’s Guzheng ensemble’s rendition of《伊犁河畔》by He Zhanhao. This piece, which can be translated as “Along the Yili River”, depicts a couple’s romantic walk along the Yili Riverbank. I especially appreciated the Guzheng ensemble’s pastel costuming, complementing the rosy young love that the song is about.
For the penultimate piece, we were treated to an impressive performance of《梁祝》— translated as “The Butterfly Lovers”, referring to the Chinese folktale of the same name. The violin’s solo, performed by Cheryl Ho, took us through the tragic tale of two star-crossed lovers. The melody started with a lovely tune, representing the fated meeting of the two lovers. When circumstances beyond their control tear their love apart and lead them to their grave, the violin plays a mournful tune. However, when the two lovers are reincarnated as butterflies and reunited in their death, the violin renders a lovely tune once more, celebrating a love that transcends mortality.
The final performance was a symphony titled《丝竹交响》(Symphony of Sizhu), commissioned by the Suzhou Chinese Oorchestra, celebrating their love for the city of Suzhou. Unlike the other pieces of the concert, which were all concertos, this one was a symphony that celebrated the unity of NTUCO, with《丝竹》referring to a group of instruments constructed from silk and bamboo. Jiayun, the chairman of NTUCO, shared that this piece was her favourite of the night. “It’s a very interesting piece with a lot of changes in tempo and rhythm,” she said. The song features a grand and poignant melody, and at the climax of the piece, members of the orchestra began humming along — as if the people of Suzhou themselves were singing of their love for the city.
“Strings of Serendipity” was my first ever experience with Chinese orchestral music, and NTUCO certainly did a good job of introducing me to the genre. Jiayun, who plays the Pipa and has 12 years of experience playing in Chinese orchestras, spoke of how the pieces showcase NTUCO’s “情” (affection), “We’ve really practised a lot, and been through a lot together.”
Fueled by their passion, the members poured countless hours into perfecting their craft. This was evident in the skill and expertise they displayed on stage. I look forward to what NTUCO will put forth next. Check out their Instagram (@ntu.chineseorchestra) for updates!