Hok San Heartbeats & Singapore’s Drum Kings
Updated: Feb 10, 2021
Watch how our local masters use their drumsticks to leave their indelible mark on the history of lion dance.
Beating Hearts
In the previous section, we covered the basic drumming techniques of Southern lion dance. But wait, weren't they a little too simple? A real performance sounds nothing like that!
Well, each style and troupe has its own unique variations and improvisations, just like jazz musicians. The most distinctive difference between Hok San and Fut San lion dance drumming is the former’s emphasis on a strong “dong dong” double beat, which symbolizes the lion’s heartbeat (Ryan, 2011). Notice how the drummer circles his arms to emphasize this:
This is Master Chan Siew Kee, crowned the "King of Drums" (Macau Daily Times, 2019).
Master Chan Siew Kee 陳紹箕 (1947-)
Master Chan began learning the craft as a member of the Hok San Association at the age of 8 (Deng, 2016). In 1990, he was invited by the Singapore Wushu Federation to be the lead drummer of 200 lions as part of National Day celebrations. He began accepting disciples two years later.
He gained the unofficial title of 'World Drum King' after his performance at the 2nd World Dragon and Lion Dance Championship in 2002.
In 2014, he founded the World Sar Ping Lion Dance Federation. He is a 3rd generation leader of the Sar Ping school, ‘descended’ from a line of masters stretching back to the very founder of the Hok San style (World Sar Ping Lion Dance Federation, n.d.). Today, the Sar Ping school has spread from Singapore to all over the world, with chapters spanning from Malaysia to the French Reunion Island (Deng, 2016).
In this video, he's performing the "18 Continual Drumming Method", a style created by another renowned Singaporean ‘drum king’.
Master Liang Zhao Fu 梁肇富 (1928 - 1986)
The late Master Liang migrated to Singapore from Guangdong in his youth, working in the clock-making industry (Singapore Hok San Association, n.d.). In 1946, he began learning lion dance.
His interest and prowess in drumming led him to develop his “18 Continual Drumming Method”, a repertoire of 18 techniques played consecutively. Its variations in tempo and dynamics represent the range of human emotion: loud sections convey exuberance, fast one's anger, and the soft, slow sections represent sadness (Chen & Qiu, 1981).
He eventually became the chairman of the Hok San Association, and for his iconic three-drum performance, he was dubbed the “Southeast Asian Drum King” (Singapore Hok San Association, n.d.).
In the next section, learn more about the 100 year history of the Hok San Association!
References
Chen, K., & Qiu, C. (1981, November 2). Liang Zhao Fu shi fu de du men jue ji: Lian huan shi ba lu gu fa [Master Liang Zhao Fu's unique skill: 18 continual drumming method]. Nanyang Siang Pau, p. 12.
Deng, H. (2016, October 31). Wen gu qi wu [Diligent drums]. Lianhe Zaobao.
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/zlifestyle/powerup/story20161031-684218
eveinparadi. (2008, May 15). Dong nan ya gu wang: Liang Shao Fu [Southeast Asian Drum King: Master Liang Shao Fu] [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8r0H1LpcA8
fung369. (2007, October 9). Shi jie gu wang [World drum king] [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsPHi2l009Y&feature=youtu.be
Macau Daily Times. (2019, November 25). Singapore team wins MGM lion dance championship. https://macaudailytimes.com.mo/singapore-team-wins-mgm-lion-dance-championship.html
Singapore Hok San Association. (n.d.) Past masters. http://sghoksan.blogspot.com/p/past-masters.html
Ryan. (2011, August 22). The lion's heartbeat. Lion Blogs. http://www.lionblogs.com/2011/08/22/the-lions-heartbeat/
World Sar Ping Lion Dance Federation. (n.d.) About.
http://worldsarping.com/about
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