DANKER, Anthony John
Performing Arts in Singapore (Music),
Accession Number 002753
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 4
Total Reels
- Denyse Tessensohn
Interviewer
- 01:48:31
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 4
Metadata
- 3 Apr 2003
Recording Date
- 00:31:19
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Born in 1922. Family background. Education at St Anthony's Boys' School. Interesting incident on how father got job at SGH. How maternal grandmother travelled to St Joseph's Church to collect donation of a dollar. Recalled parents going to church by rickshaw. Family spoke Kristang. Corporal punishment the norm in schools then. Named musical instruments he played. Recalled father buying him a guitar for $3.00. Salary received working for railways as Station Ticket Checker. Description of job at Education Department. Circumstances that led him to join Malay band. How recording was done. Records were popular among Peranakans and Malays. Recalled recording studio at McDonald House.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 4
Metadata
- 3 Apr 2003
Recording Date
- 00:29:35
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Venues his band performed at. Recalled playing with most Hawaiian guitar players in Singapore. Named popular musicians and their instruments. Friend built electric guitar for him in 1946. Attraction to classical guitar made him sit for Grade 5 exam. Recalled getting a distinction in Grade 8. Music jobs helped him pay up housing loan. Why he never thought of migrating. Opined on superiors he worked for. Touched on life after marriage. His understanding of "upper ten" and "lower six" Eurasians. Description of Christmas Treats organized for children. Recounted an incident in Gemas during Japanese Occupation. Views on help rendered to some 20 Eurasians. Guitar music.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 4
Metadata
- 3 Apr 2003
Recording Date
- 00:31:21
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Experienced playing for Bangsawan plays. Description of "sarong kebaya" nights. Elaborated on friend who made his first electric guitar. Development of his creative talents. His inspirational guitarists. Mentioned Dick Abel, leader of SBC Orchestra. Recalled bands that played at Happy, Great and New World Cabarets. Musical instruments used by bands then. Named artistes that recorded for Columbia Records. Received envelope containing five cents as payment for band performance prewar. Lorry transport provided for Bangsawan performances. Gig performances at military establishments. Reminiscences playing keronchong in Johore. Recalled receiving $250 for performances at Shell Club, Bukom. Recounted banjo and trombone performances. Recalled performing with Ahmad Jaffar.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 4
Metadata
- 3 Apr 2003
Recording Date
- 00:16:16
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
His fellow musicians and he chartered taxis during performances and divided the transport cost amongst them. Spoke of a complaint lodged against him to Ministry of Education by some jealous musicians. How he subsequently resolved the problem through a friend working for the Royal Air Force. Cited differences between the Portuguese and French missions.
His life before and after marriage. Elaborated on the Portuguese Eurasians. Recalled family's poverty and simple meals as father was the sole breadwinner. Fond memories of swimming when visiting his sister whose house was on stilts overlooking the sea off Pasir Panjang.
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