The TENG Company's video: EP2: An Inheritance from Our Cantonese Forefathers

Cantonese opera is a traditional Chinese art form that originated from the Guangdong Province in China. A significant part of the art form involves singing accompanied by a combination of winds, string and percussion music. Cantonese opera and music started to become popular in Singapore after an influx of Chinese migrants in the late 1800s. More than a century later, however, the future of this traditional art form has become endangered due to declining interest from the younger generation. Under the leadership of Ms. Tse Yee Ling, Yi Sheng Cantonese Opera Troupe remains one of the few organisations that continues to preserve and promote Cantonese opera and music. -- A Video by The TENG Ensemble Production by Fiction Shore Pte Ltd Cinematography by Kevin Yeoh Special thanks to Tan Cheng Hwee In support of the Singapore Bicentennial -- About The Forefathers Project: The Forefathers Project was initiated by TENG in 2016 to uncover and explore the music of Singapore’s early Chinese migrants. Over the course of four years, TENG interviewed, documented and learnt from a community of first-generation masters, luthiers, instrument dealers and proteges from local Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew and Hakka traditions to shed light on the lesser-known elements of Singapore’s Chinese music heritage. -- About The TENG Ensemble: The TENG Ensemble is a critically acclaimed Singaporean Chinese fusion music group that bridges between cultures East and West, boasting musical influences from both the traditional and the contemporary. As a collective of music educators, scholars and award-winning instrumentalists, the Ensemble’s performances have been a staple in Singapore’s arts scene since 2009. At the 2015 National Day Rally, The TENG Ensemble was described by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as ‘creating something uniquely Singapore’. The group has performed at events such as the ASEAN Tourism Forum, TEDxPetaling Street, Youth Olympic Games, Shanghai World Expo, Singapore Day in Melbourne, George Town Festival and Singapore International Jazz Festival. The Ensemble’s two full-length albums were both rated 4.5 out of 5 stars by The Straits Times and their second album ‘Stories from an Island City’ peaked at on Hong Kong’s iTunes World Music Chart. In 2018, the group was awarded the CHT International Award for Musical Performance and Education. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetengensemble Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetengensemble The TENG Company and The Forefathers Project are proudly supported by Mapletree Investments.