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Monday, March 17, 2008

"The Daily 10 with the Music D"


Yup, we're back! Team @ broken took a break towards the end of last week because well....some people flew off somewhere! But we're back with a vengeance and here's the latest on what you can expect from the music score for broken....!

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Introducing the Music Director for broken, Teoh Jui Hong...

Team @ broken: What's the underlying theme for Broken?
Jui Hong: As in what? The theme song?

Team @ broken: Okay, you seem a bit blur, just woke up eh? Let’s try this – what inspired you to create the score? (ie. why did you choose to put these particular songs together?)
Jui Hong: Most of the major key songs are chosen to tell the story in a more compelling way. Some of which you have heard before, some not so. But all of them tell the story of hope, even when faced with the darkest of moments.The score itself, as well as the arrangements of the entire production is inspired by the classics. I watch way too many movies to be healthy! So the arrangements will reflect classic arrangement styles from the 70s, and 80s.

Team @ broken: How long did it take you?
Jui Hong: The song list was easy. It was given straight to me from the director/script. The score itself, took about a day. It's finding the right score that will underline the emotions of that particular scene. We're letting some scenes use music to carry the weight of the emotions. In fact, some of our early choices proved to carry wayyyy to much emotions. :)
But the hardest of it was the original song for one of the scenes. The music went from R&B to Rock to Pop Ballad before we settled on just the right arrangement. In the end, borrowing from all elements. That took us 2 weeks!

Team @ broken: Was it hard?
Jui Hong: I guess the hardest part of the process is the arrangement. As the practices progressed, it is the connection between the music and what’s happening on stage that matters the most, and tuning it just right is a process that involves the entire music team, as well as the actors. It's a live performance after all, and we can't go back and just edit it into the play. It needs to be timed to almost precision so that the right note hits at the right moment of the scene.

Team @ broken: What was the process like? (ie. did you have lots of toilet breaks, didyou sit there and hold your pee in till you were done, did you glue yourself to the piano stool?)
Jui Hong:
The initial process was quite non-eventful. I literally picked a scene from the thousands of movies I've watched, and try to match it down to what's happening on stage. The original song however, was different. A few nights glued to the piano trying out every variation of tune and chords and structure.

The arrangement was a different story. I had to literally conjure the entire play in my head, word for word of the script, add a soundtrack to it, and literally play millions of variations of pace and timing before settling on the right piece.

Team @ broken: What instruments are you using to recreate the score? (obviously not orchestra!)
Jui Hong: We have a 5 piece band recreating the score. Piano, Drums, Keyboard, Bassand a guitar. In fact, this play will feature the 1st public performance ofour own acoustic guitarist turn electric rock star, one you would neverimagine to ever be behind those power chords!

Team @ broken: Did anything funny happen while you were at it?
Jui Hong: No, not really.

Team @ broken: What?? Nothing at all?? Hmmm…okay, so did advertisement jingles come into your head or perhaps the mario brothers theme song?
Jui Hong:
Actually, while I was at it, the song from Disney's Beauty & the Beast keeppopping in my head. Don't ask me why.

Team @ broken: If we said, we think "I'm so lonely" the chipmunk version really suitsthe soundtrack, you would say.....? (The song goes, "lonely, I'm so lonely,I ain't nobody, all on my ownnn!!)
Jui Hong:................!!! (jaw drop)

Team @ broken: If you could describe how you want the music to affect the audience, what would it be?
Jui Hong: I want the music to be part of the story, to be a tool that helps the story along. With the songs, my hope that the audience will be able to connect with the characters, understanding what they're going through, their struggles, their hurt and pain, and ultimately, their hopes and dreams. That connection will be the central piece to allowing the audience to soak in the message of the play - that there's hope, even the desperation.

Team @ broken: Complete this sentence, "I love Jesus because....." (In 25 words or less)
Jui Hong: Oh, how I love Jesus
Oh, how I love Jesus
Oh, how I love Jesus
Because He first loved me.

Watch this SPOT!: March 18, 2008 (Tues)
"The Big Brother: Ah Ken Kor"

Find out who this Tai Ko is in the play and how he's entangled in the web of deception with Eddie.


Disclaimer: All characters are figments of our imagination and character reviews are written in the first person context to make it more personal and interesting.





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