The Making of "Majulah Singapura" as We Know It
The national anthem that we know today wasn't the original version composed
by Zubir Said. The first version was longer and was pitched at a higher
key. Emeritus Professor Bernard Tan talks about how "Majulah Singapura"
came about and how it changed over the decades, and illustrates how these
versions differ on his piano.
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What Prof Tan Talked About
00:52 – Brief history of Singapore’s national anthem
04:33 – Zubir Said’s composition of "Majulah Singapura" for Victoria Theatre
07:50 – Adoption of the anthem and its unauthorised shortening
11:53 – Comparison of different versions of the anthem
15:44 – How Prof Tan verified Zubir Said’s original manuscript
21:43 – Fanfare introduction and early concert arrangements
25:08 – Recording and performances at national events and parades
28:17 – Government-led initiative to reorchestrate the anthem
31:12 – Lowering the anthem’s key from G major to F major
34:24 – Military band considerations and key signature decisions
37:28 – Lee Kuan Yew’s input on the anthem
40:31 – Zubir Said’s versatility and legacy beyond the anthem
43:30 – Preservation of early scores and access through archives
46:26 – Insights into musical phrasing and national identity
52:30 – Making the anthem singable and inclusive
55:24 – Role of music in civic pride and national consciousness
58:34 – Recollections from school days and early arrangements
01:01:18 – Music, memory and cultural preservation
About the Guest
Emeritus Professor Bernard T. G. Tan is a retired professor of physics from the National University of Singapore who also dabbles in music. Some of his compositions have been performed by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. He is a former chairman of the Sing Singapore organising committee.
Resources
Bernard Tan, “The Search for Home, Truly (and Other National Day Songs),” BiblioAsia 21, no. 1 (April–June 2025).
Rohana Zubir, Zubir Said: The Composer of Majulah Singapura (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2012).
Credits
This episode of BiblioAsia+ was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Prof Tan for coming on the show.
About the Podcast
BiblioAsia+ is a podcast about Singapore history by the National Library Singapore.