Publication: Cultural dependence in question: An exploration of musical practices of South Indian film in Singapore
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Date
2005
Authors
Dairianathan, Eugene
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Abstract
The entry on music in Singapore by Lee Tong Soon (2001:421) in the Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians makes the following observations: "The majority of Indians in Singapore speak Tamil, while other large groups include the Malayalis, Punjabis, Sindhis, Bengalis, and Gujaratis. Temple music from the Carnatic tradition, featuring the nagaswaram (oboe) and tavil (doubleheaded barrel drum) is performed to announce daily prayer times and during festivals such as Thaipusam and Thimithi. Other genres include bhajanas (Sanskrit bhajans), film music and Hindustani and Carnatic classical music." Film music appears between Sanskrit bhajans and Hindustani and Carnatic classical music. Less, either in description or scholarship is available to inform a reader of the presence and practice of film music in Singapore. Apart from Joseph Peters' (1993) noteworthy contribution on classical and folk culture of the Indian community in the ASEAN context, Lee's entry in Groves contains no single bibliographical reference in English, Tamil or Hindi on the subject. Nevertheless, cursory descriptions of music evince practices likely to have been found in a public setting, albeit in a select community of supporters. Appearances of music-making at a public setting suggest a deeper level of this collective action, namely ways in which it may have been initiated, nurtured and supported. There has arisen an implicit view, in writings and oral interviews, of an overwhelming reliance on India for cultural and musical sustenance, not only of folk and classical traditions but film music and culture as well; a view almost as unanimous as it is unquestioned. This essay involves a critical assessment of cultural reliance in the practice of music of South Indian film in Singapore through oral interviews and other supporting documentation.
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Dairianathan, E. (2005). Cultural dependence in question: An exploration of musical practices of South Indian film in Singapore. Festschrift, 2005, 174-192.