Sang Nila Utama

SSAA a cappella, 3’40”

Sang Nila Utama,
from a high stone of Batam,
gazed on the opposite shore
where white sands gleamed as cotton.

“What’s that island?”, he asked,
“Temasek”, said the aide.
Driven by ambition,
he set sail for new lands.

Caught in a tempest,
the ship began to leak.
The crew threw water out,
but the sea continued in its wrath.

The ship was too heavy;
supplies thrown overboard.
Sang Nila Utama sacrifices his crown
to appease the storm.

They make landing on the mouth of the river;
on the Padang, they beheld
a creature of great beauty and majesty:
the Singha.

Sang Nila Utama
thus lays the foundation of Singapura.

words by Kenneth Tay

I explore the rich tapestry of Malay legend, drawing from the text in John Leyden’s account and translation of the founding of Singapura in the Malay Annals (1821). The composition opens with pentatonic clusters, a homage to the region’s musical heritage, that gradually unfolds into full diatonicism and contemporary colours – representing the transition from the familiar to the adventure of the unknown. As Sang Nila Utama’s gaze settles upon the white sands of Temasek from a high point in Batam, the music echoes his yearning for discovery and conquest. The narrative takes a tumultuous turn as the prince and his crew face the fury of the seas. Here, the music intensifies, with wails and sirens representing the ship’s struggle against the overwhelming floodwaters. A transformative moment is reached when Sang Nila Utama, in a profound act of surrender, offers his crown to the tempest. Finally, the piece settles into a peaceful melody as Sang Nila Utama and his companions encounter the regal Singha – a lion.

The work is published by Muziksea.