Instrument Adoption

While embarking on The Forefathers Project, we worked with instrument dealers and luthiers to curate a series of unique instruments that were specially produced by last-generation-artisans in Singapore and China. As works of art in their own right, these instruments are up for adoption for a bi-yearly donation of $20,000 per instrument. The funds raised will go towards our operations, projects and initiatives.

If you adopt an instrument, you will have the option of naming it after yourself or a company, or in memory of a loved one. Your adoption will be acknowledged whenever your chosen instrument is used in a live performance, recording, exhibition or social media feature. 

All donations S$30 and above are eligible for 250% tax deduction and dollar-for-dollar matching from the Cultural Matching Fund. The amount will also make you a Brocade Patron, which comes with an assortment of benefits as well.

Please contact partnerships@thetengcompany.com if you wish to adopt an instrument.

Cantonese Gaohu 广东高胡

Available for Adoption

The innovation of the Cantonese Gaohu can be largely attributed to Lü Wencheng (吕文成), who experimented replacing the silk strings on his Erhu with steel ones. Today, the Cantonese Gaohu is typically featured as a lead instrument in Cantonese opera and music ensembles. Being smaller than the Erhu, one plays the Cantonese Gaohu by positioning the instrument’s sound box in between their inner thighs, so as to maintain control over the timbre and volume of the melody produced.

Gehu 革胡

Adopted in memory of Dr Lai-Wah Lai

The Gehu – which loosely translates as ‘revolutionary fiddle’ – was invented by Yang Yusen in the 1950s. His intention was to have a Cello-like instrument with aural and visual aesthetics that Chinese people could proudly lay claim to. The outcome of Yang’s efforts was a four-stringed instrument that is played almost exactly like a Cello, using a Cello bow and with part of the instrument resting on a chair. What distinguishes the Gehu from the Cello, however, is how it produces sounds with lower timbre and a greater nasal resonance that blends better musically with other Chinese instruments.

Nanpa 南琶

Adopted by Conrad and Andrea Lim

The Nanpa is the Fujian Nanyin (福建南音) variant of the Pipa (琵琶). It has four strings which are traditionally made of silk, and comprises parts which are sometimes made of mother-of-pearl, ivory and wood. The Nanpa can be identified by its crooked neck, black body and a unique horizontal playing style, which can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 AD). This horizontal playing style requires one to use their fingernails to pluck the Nanpa’s strings, resulting in a tone that is reminiscent to the reverberance of bells.

Qinqin 秦琴

Available for Adoption

The Qinqin is a long-necked fretted lute with a body that can come in several shapes: flower, round, hexagonal or octagonal. While originally manufactured with three strings, the Qinqin can also be played with two or four strings, depending on the musical context. These strings, which are made of either silk or steel, can be plucked with either a pick or the player’s fingernails. The Qinqin has a bright and gentle tone colour and is almost always played together with the Gaohu (高胡) and Yangqin (扬琴) in Cantonese music ensembles.

Teochew Pipa 潮州琵琶

Adopted by Mr & Mrs Soh Gim Teik

Alongside the Teochew Zheng (潮州筝) and Sanxian (三弦), the Teochew Pipa completes the trio of plucked strings instruments that are usually featured in Teochew music ensembles. The Teochew Pipa has a head that resembles that of a phoenix’s tail. The instrument's ledge frets and tuning pegs are usually made of bone, jade, ivory or wood, while its playing frets are made of bamboo. Additionally, the Teochew Pipa’s silk or nylon strings are very flexible and soft to the touch, enabling its player to perform the large pitch bends that have become a hallmark of Teochew music.

Teochew Zheng 潮州筝

Available for Adoption

The Teochew Zheng, alongside the Sanxian (三弦) and the Teochew Pipa (潮州琵琶), is part of a trio of plucked strings instruments that are usually featured in Teochew music ensembles. While the contemporary Guzheng (古筝) has 21 strings, the Teochew Zheng consists of 16 to 18 steel strings that produce sounds of a bright and sharp timbre. The body of the instrument is adorned with flower motifs, which are inlaid with mother of pearl finish.

Yueqin 月琴

Adopted by Mr & Mrs Teo Choo Kiat

The Yueqin is a short-fretted lute with a moon-shaped wooden soundboard. Typically tuned to the interval of a perfect fifth, the Yueqin is played with a pick, making it suitable for performing virtuosic and fast-running passages. While the Yueqin was first sighted in the Qin Dynasty (221 – 206 BC), it arguably became prominent after the advent of Beijing opera (京剧) from the 17th century onwards. During Beijing opera performances, the Yueqin is often tasked with playing melodic accompaniments to the actors singing onstage, alongside other string instruments like the Jinghu (京胡).

Yehu 椰胡

Available for Adoption

The Yehu is an essential instrument in Hainanese music. Its soundboard is made of a coconut shell, in contrast to snakeskin which is commonly used on other Huqin (胡琴) instruments such as the Erhu (二胡) or Gaohu (高胡). The strings of the Yehu are held by a cockle shell bridge (or more commonly known as ‘see-hum’) and were traditionally made of silk. In contemporary times, metal has also been used. The instrument has a very distinctive throaty and hollow sound, and is played in the same way as other Huqin instruments.