KHOO, Benjamin Beng Chuan
Performing Arts in Singapore (Music),
Accession Number 002911
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 26
Total Reels
- Samuel Sng
Interviewer
- 24:50:21
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 26
Metadata
- 31 Jan 2005
Recording Date
- 00:57:13
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Born in 1923. Took Grade 8 piano exam without tuition. Played piano from age five. How he learnt piano. Piano’s role in family. His Methodist background; exposure to choral singing. Parents’ influence. Cost of pianos then. Music shops selling pianos. Learning piano at home. Sharing piano with siblings. His perfect pitch. Comparing his musical abilities with siblings’. His music credentials. Played piano during family devotions. Comparing hymnbook with piano book. How siblings learned piano. Music appreciation in 1920s. Families owning pianos before war. His music education at Anglo-Chinese School. Piano as status symbol. Morning family devotions. Father’s background.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 26
Metadata
- 17 Mar 2005
Recording Date
- 00:58:19
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Playing piano for chapels; format. Brother also played for chapels. How students learned new songs. Principal’s address. Catering to non-Christians. Acoustics of school hall. Accompanying students on piano. His piano competency. Playing for family devotions and chapels; comparison. Piano in school hall. Why no chapel in primary school. His musical development in primary school. Comparing singing with playing piano. Learning singing from Miss Russell. Singing contributed to music development. Why he had no piano lessons. Learning the violin. Took piano exam at 21. Regret not having piano lessons. Comparing his music abilities with siblings’. Why elder brother took piano lessons.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 26
Metadata
- 24 Mar 2005
Recording Date
- 00:58:31
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Joined E.A. Brown’s Children Orchestra after learning violin within year. Practising violin at home. Preferred to learn piano. Far Eastern Music School (FEMS); staff and popularity. How he joined Children’s Orchestra. Preparing for first concert with Children’s Orchestra. Rehearsals at Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH). Probably played second violin. Orchestra size; frequency, time of rehearsals; members. Impressions of VMH; Mr Brown. Orchestral discipline. Interacting with members. Inspired to become orchestral conductor. Florence Wong’s performance. Syonan Orchestra probably first ensemble he heard. Difference between listening and playing in orchestra. Impressions of Syonan Orchestra. Relationship between conductor and orchestra. Mr Brown as conductor.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 26
Metadata
- 11 Apr 2005
Recording Date
- 00:58:23
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Open-air screenings at McKenzie Road. Screening times. People paid 10 cents per movie. Seating capacity. Patrons sat on floor. Frequency of attending open-air screenings. Atmosphere during screenings. Purchasing tickets. Sound system. Why he did not visit cinemas at young age. Alhambra cinema on Beach Road showed mostly musicals. Why Alhambra was popular. Traveling to Alhambra. Why movie was shown at only one cinema. Alhambra’s architecture. Long queues at Alhambra. Hall not air-conditioned. Matinee ticket prices. Matinee shows. Queuing up. Free seating at matinees. Why he did not purchase advance tickets. Learning of upcoming movies. Beach Road in 1930s.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 26
Metadata
- 15 Apr 2005
Recording Date
- 00:58:37
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Beach Road through the years. Odeon Theatre at North Bridge Road. No matinee shows at Odeon. Purchasing $1 seats. Screenings he normally attended. Cinema foyer. Cinemas that were air-conditioned. Buildings and shops around Odeon. Traveling to Odeon. Modes of pre-war transportation. Rickshaw and mosquito bus. Mosquito bus could carry six passengers; routes along main roads, fare, seats. Waiting for mosquito buses on Serangoon Road. Colour of buses. Cycling to school at Cairnhill. Drivers and conductors of mosquito buses. Where bus conductor stood. Frequency of buses. Deciding which mode of transport to take. Passengers on mosquito buses.
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Reel/Disc 9 of 26
Metadata
- 18 Apr 2005
Recording Date
- 00:55:00
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Why people take mosquito buses; its operational hours. Waiting for buses at Tekka area. Memories of living in Veerasamy Road. Neighbours include Thio Chan Bee, who later became Anglo-Chinese School principal. His Peranakan house. Street hawkers outside his house. Furniture and décor of living room. Shared bedroom with siblings. Airing the mattresses. Relationship with siblings. Shops along Serangoon Road. Tekka Market then. Accompanying his mother to Tekka. Hawkers at market. Chinese deity processions terrified him. Watching daytime Chinese wayangs with siblings. His fascination for Chinese wayangs.
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Reel/Disc 10 of 26
Metadata
- 22 Apr 2005
Recording Date
- 00:58:40
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Social background of neighbours at Veerasamy Road. Hardly interacted with neighbours. Impressions of Thio Chan Bee. Interacting with siblings. About 10 homes along Veerasamy Road. Serangoon already predominantly Indian area in 1930s. Homeless Indians in Serangoon area. Childhood games. Played marbles and kite-flying. His interest in kite-flying. Flying kites around Veerasamy Road. His first kite. Places that sold kites. Kites trapped in trees; techniques in kite-flying. Classmates and siblings interested in kite-flying. Ideal time for kite-flying. How he started playing marbles. How he obtained marbles; types of marbles. Rules in playing marbles; forfeits. Playing marbles during recess time.
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