Zechariah Goh and the Development of Classical Saxophone in Singapore

Summary

Abstract

Singapore does not have a long tradition of classical saxophone performance. In recent years, however, concert saxophone has seen a surge in popularity and technical development which can be attributed to the work of a single man: Zechariah Goh Toh Chai, a composer who helped the saxophone find its place in the musical landscape of Singapore. After receiving his DMA from the University of Kansas, Goh returned to his native country, serving as a Senior Lecturer of Composition at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. In addition to the six compositions that he has written for the saxophone, Goh has supported the instrument by founding and directing the Singapore Saxophone Symposium, which has attracted notable guest artists and teachers from around the world. This paper seeks to document Goh's work in facilitating the study and performance of concert saxophone in Singapore.

Keywords: Singapore composer, Zechariah Goh, Singapore saxophone, saxophone music, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

Introduction

To date, no scholarly article has been devoted to the development of concert saxophone in Singapore. This is likely because Singapore does not have a uniquely rich saxophone tradition; however, with the aid of Zechariah Goh Toh Chai, the instrument has been able to find its place in the musical landscape of this country. In addition, more students are embarking on postsecondary education as saxophone majors, evidenced by the increased enrollment of saxophone students at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) since Goh's return to Singapore. Similar to how Hector Belioz helped Adolphe Sax in the early days of the development of the instrument, Goh has worked tirelessly to promote saxophone performance and literature throughout his native country. This paper documents Goh's contributions to the development of the saxophone in Singapore.

History of the Wind Band in Singapore and Its Impact on Saxophone Development

Singapore's recorded history can be traced back to the eleventh century via travelers’ accounts and court inscriptions from Chinese, Thai, Javanese, Sumatran, and Indian sources. From these records, we can see that Singapore was claimed by many kingdoms at different times in history until it eventually came under the influence of the Islamic sultanate of Malacca. While Malacca grew in fame and wealth as a major trading port, Singapore faded in importance and had become a quiet fishing village by the time the British Empire arrived to establish a trading station in 1819.