Monday, February 07, 2011

New Orleans Jazz Bands And Chinese Funeral Bands

A Western Funeral Band from New Orleans

Below: 

A Chinese funeral band from Singapore
Taken at Kim Yam Road, 1970.
                        
UP TO 1,300 VIEWS; 170+ LIKES; 40+ CHATS

As a child I remember street music in Singapore which comes from Chinese funeral processions. These funeral bands play melodies from both Chinese and English pops. One particular pop song that I can still recall, Today, (You're) Not Coming Home (Jin Tian Bu Hui Jia 今天不回家), has been played so many times at Chinese funeral street marches that it's been accepted as the unofficial theme song for the occasion 

Books from the US that discuss the history of jazz music claim that jazz bands began from dance bands or social orchestras. These were African American bands that played on the streets in New Orleans, U.S.A. officiating at funeral processions. They play solemn music on the way to the burial yard and hot jazz on the way back.

It is common knowledge in the 60s that some Singapore band boys who play in the night-clubs freelance and work as funeral musicians in the day. Again the parallel; New Orleans dance orchestras do not confine themselves to playing in the ballrooms but played at funerals. Nothing to be ashamed of because it's honest living. These funeral bands could comprise from eight members onwards and the instruments included trumpets, trombones, snare drums and cymbals.

The Chinese funeral bands have the same number of people with similar instruments. During a bigger and longer procession at a Chinese funeral (indicating the wealth of the deceased), more instruments could be used, like the larger bass drums and a tuba. When questioned why music is played during such a tear-jerking occasion, the band members explain that the noise drives evil spirits away. Comment?

Original article: Andy Lim.  
潮州大锣鼓, Grand funeral procession 
@ Simei Singapore.
YouTube Video from: tengcc

1.11.2022

Richard Lincoln from Facebook Nostalgic Singapore contributed this short article:

The Chinese associations funeral bands were called 'Kong Kuan' and the jazz bands were 'Ang Moh Kong Kuan'. The Kong Kuan would pay their respects positioned in front of the coffin at the wake just before the funeral proceeds.

There are no music sheets. Every instrument is played from memory. Drum, gongs, cymbals, wind instruments. There's a slow starting tempo which builds up into a faster one and goes soft and slow with the wind section. Then it goes up a notch or two in tempo that culminated in a rousing crescendo of all the instruments. I believe the 'symphony' takes about twenty minutes from start to finish. 

Remembering as best I can from childhood.  

3.11.2022.

Richard Rajoo, a good friend and a guitarist says:

Just to add, these *Kong Kuans* mainly belong to the Chinese Clan Associations... They will present the BRASS BAND to commemorate the passing of one of their members, families or fellow associates, to announce their own membership.

Friends from other *Kong Kuans* sometimes contribute their TROUPEs also *as a matter of pride* for the deceased family, thereby creating a big problem for the authorities, in the way of traffic congestion, at times ending in squabbles as to their band's parade positions in the final funeral procession; and all *as a matter of pride*.

Police permits are required. Sometimes, family members are not notified of appearance of guest bands... adding to the neighbourhood's din. 

Not all will appreciate the *tong tong chiang*.

**********

Image 2: National Heritage Board, Singapore. 


Drum Master Slt Ben ban sian for Lay Teck Sia
YouTube Screen Shot from: TENGCC

9 comments:

Lam Chun See said...

You forgot to mention ... O when the saints, come marching home, O when the saints come marching home. O how I love to be in that ........

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Yes, a more familiar one, and for both languages too.

Anyone has a list of these songs? Especially the Chinese ones?

Thanks Chun See for visiting.

FACEBOOK CHATS said...


Jason Kang
The older folks used to call them "ang moh band" 😜

Andy Young
Author
Jason Kang oh really? I didn't know. As a child I knew them as TONG, TONG CHENG, come already. 🙂

Andy Young
Author
Thanks Jason.

Andy Young
Author
thanks Gracie and Dilip for liking this post.

rabi doraisamy said...

Happy days are here again was especially inappropriate.

FACEBOOK CHATS said...

Jason Kang
Andy Young yes that's what they called them besides the traditional Chinese drums & gongs. The rich ones have both and also big headed dolls. My grandfather had his traditional Teochew drum & gongs from the association but no ang moh band. The music they played was very solemn followed by long drumming & gongs session

Andy Young
Author
Jason Kang hi, would be great if you could write an article. Thanks.

Jason Kang
Andy Young most of the info I got was from my childhood experience and oral history from my folks. I grew up in a shophouse and listening to old folks chatting was a good source ��

ZY He
Andy Young Tong tong chiang are the Chinese gongs... this is ang moh lor kor...��

Andy Young
Author
Thanks Jason.

Ah Foo
Yes
Ang Moh Bands...
For Teochews ...
It will be the Teochews Winds & Percussions Band.. usually will ve Strings section..
Those with Bigger Budget..
Will be the Dolls .. the Banner... The Flower-girls...
For the more Deeper Pockets...
Stalkwalkers & Big-Flags Dancers....
For those who r from Chinese Martial-arts Background...
Will be White Lions & Dragons as part of it ..

Jason Kang
Ah Foo yes that's it. I've seen the last one bcos I was from a martial art background.

Andy Young
Author
Ah Foo thank you for information.

YF Tham
Jason Kang, Son in law pay for band in hokkien funeral.

Andy Young
Author
thanks Gracie and Dilip for the LIKES.

Francis Kum Chee Thong
This 永香生花 still runs a shop in ground floor of BLK 34, upper cross street.

James Kwok
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZD3RJ7gdk8
New Orleans funeral scene - Live and Let Die (1973)

Andy Young
Author
James Kwok thanks, this is precious. Never seen this one. Memorable.

Richard Lincoln
The Chinese associations funeral bands were called 'kong kuan' and the jazz bands were 'ang moh kong kuan'. The kong kuan would pay their respects positioned infront of the coffin at the wake just before the funeral proceeds.

There's no music sheets. Every instrument is played from memory. Drum, gongs, cymbals, wind instruments. There's a slow starting tempo which builds up into a faster one and goes soft n slow with the wind section. Then it goes up a notch or two in tempo that culminated in a rousing crescendo of all the instruments. I believe the 'symphony' takes about twenty minutes from start to finish.
Remembering as best I can from childhood.

Found this video of a kong kuan.
https://youtu.be/RJ1_9XKSPtk
Drum Master Slt Ben ban sian for Lay Teck Sia
YOUTUBE.COM

Andy Young
Author
Richard Lincoln hi, thanks for the informative piece. An expert's view definitely.

Richard Lincoln
Andy Young not really an expert. Just sharing childhood memories. Another Chinese religious belief that had me engrossed as a child was the 'tung-kee' or medium. Watching how they went into a trance n came out of it. And the self-mortification with swords and multiple spiked instruments.

FACEBOOK CHATS said...

Andy Young
Author
Richard Lincoln, hi. Sorry. I just realised you live here. Thanks

Richard Lincoln
Andy Young born n bred Singaporean Eurasian. Lived with Chinese neighbours, and am almost Chinese. ��

YF Tham
Richard Lincoln Kong Kuan also have in Teochew & Hokkien versions.

Andy Young
Author
YF Tham, thank you.

Richard Lincoln
YF Tham thank you. I never knew. I only could tell if the bereaved family was Teochew when an extra tent was erected for the final night prayers which were very elaborate. They had the 'bridge crossing'.

Wibowo Kelvin
Richard Lincoln Yes the traditional Teochew prayers are done by Teochew Buddhist religious group called Sian Tng 善堂 which chanted Buddhist scriptures in the Teochew dialect with very beautiful traditional Teochew musical instruments.

Wibowo Kelvin
Richard Lincoln Yes ...the whole sequence is called Ban Xian 办仙 or invoking the immortals. This is a ceremonial music also reserved for temple festivities.

Richard Lincoln
Wibowo Kelvin thank you for both of your replies. A great insight into Teochew cultural practices. Thank you again.

Jack Tan
The band played theme song of “天龙八部” during my grandma’s funeral for warming up.

FACEBOOK CHATS said...

Peter Jason Lai
Andy Young This is a memorable scene esp if you are a fan of the 1970's Roger Moore James Bond 007 movies.

Andy Young
Author
Peter Jason Lai, yes. I think I missed it. Unique indeed. We've gone a long way discussing funeral parades but I guess it's part of the whole deal. Thanks.

****************
Jason Kang
Ah Foo yes that's it. I've seen the last one bcos I was from a martial art background.

Andy Young
Author
Ah Foo thank you for information.

YF Tham
Jason Kang Son in law pay for band in hokkien funeral.

Andy Young
Author
YF Tham, that's interesting.

Francis Kum Chee Thong
This 永香生花 still runs a shop in ground floor of BLK 34, upper cross street.

Jack Tan
The band played theme song of “天龙八部” during my grandma’s funeral for warming up

Andy Young
Author
Thanking everyone who like, enjoy and commented on this posting. Cheers.

Nai Ho
In Taiwan, funeral parlours blare the music to the tune of 总有一天等到您。

Andy Young
Author
Nai Ho, Thanks. Long wait...🙂

Tan Teng Teng
Other favourite tunes: 世上只有妈妈好; 一只小雨伞

Tan Teng Teng
But there was once they played “Popeye The Sailor Man” (pengsan)

Baharuddin Ahmad
Tan Teng Teng even 'hawaii 5 O'😄

Andy Young
Author
Baharuddin Ahmad, their repertoire is flexible? Thanks for your contribution.

Andy Young
Author
Tan Teng Teng, hi, long time no hear. I guess the musicians wanted to pop the pedestrians' eyes and ears?

**************
GIF OF AFRICANS CARRYING A COFFIN, ROCK N ROLLING.
Andy Young
Author
John Ang thanks, Lovely. Must have been a rock and roll person who passed away.

John Ang
Andy Young This is in Africa.

Andy Young
Author
I know John. Rock n roll is a distinct past from African Americans who were brought into the US through slavery. Same hot, rollicking and vibrant beat that they offer are from the same root.

Hartono Bin Yadi
I remember those days. The band play Beautiful Sunday.

Andy Young
Author
Hartono Bin Yadi, thank you. Could have been for some.

Baharuddin Ahmad
Do they take request?🤣

Andy Young
Author
Baharuddin Ahmad, better not ask. Or the momoh may come every night to take more requests. Thanks. Good one.

Dins DN
In those days, I was paid $10 to play drum for funerals. 😀But the time spent half a day for just $10 is not worth it.

Andy Young
Author
Dins DN, hello. Yours is a chat I'd love to hear about too. I have known musicians who tell me the same. I can understand why since it is not an easy job, especially when there are many wind instruments and blowing a musical instrument or playing any is not easy when a musician has to walk in the hot sun. Thanks Dins DN. Appreciate your contribution.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

REPLYING TO RABI DORAISAMY:

Very much so Rabi. Definitely not appropriate.
Thanks for visiting.
Please come in again.

RICHARD RAJOO said...

Re.. Your post, funeral band...

Just to add, these *Kong Kuans* mainly belong to the Chinese Clan Associations.. They will present the BRASS BAND to commemorate the passing of one of their members, families or fellow associates, to announce their own membership.

Friends from other *Kong Kuans* sometimes contribute their TROUPEs also *as a matter of pride* for the deceased family, thereby creating a big problem for the Authorities, in the way of traffic congestion, at times ending in squabbles as to their Band's Parade positions in the final funeral procession; and all *as a matter of pride*.

Police permits are required. Sometimes, family members are not notified of appearance of guest bands... adding to the neighbourhood's din. Not all will appreciate the *tong tong chiang*.