SUKA SUKA: MARIA POMIANOWSKA AND THE ART OF POLISH FIDDLING

Maria Pomianowska is one of the world's authorities of the ancient art of Polish fiddling. She is in town to perform a concert at the Botanic Gardens on Saturday (16 May 2026) with Singaporean musicians on Chinese, Malay and Indian traditional instruments. At an informal session at the residence of Poland's ambassador to Singapore Tadeusz Chomicki, she demonstrated her art on two traditional Polish bowed instruments informally known as the suka - a Bilgoraj suka and Plock fiddle. 

These instruments were once thought to be lost to time, completely replaced by modern violins and violas. However, through archaeological digs and old pictures, modern versions of these instruments have been crafted on cherry wood and birch, reviving a musical tradition thought to have been extinct. There are thought to be only 40-50 such instruments in existence in the world today.

Maria was originally a cellist, and in her many travels to Asia, learnt to play the Indian sarangi, Chinese erhu and Mongolian matouqin. Through experimentation, trials and errors, she adapted various bowed techniques to the suka, and single-handedly brought life back to an ancient tradition. In her demonstration, she played on both instruments - displaying an earthy and dusky tone - as well as sang traditional Polish songs. 

In her concert, she is partnered by Polish accordionist Piotr Kopietz, and instrumentalists from the Singapore Raffles Music College and independent instrumentalists in a project delightfully called A Rojak of Sounds. The concert is organised by the Polish Embassy to Singapore.

A ROJAK OF SOUNDS

Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage,

Singapore Botanic Gardens

Saturday 16 May 2026 at 6 pm

“A ROJAK OF SOUNDS” Botanic Gardens Concert

ADMISSION IS FREE!

Maria Pomianowska with Yo-Yo Ma

Maria Pomianowska

and her suka ensemble

CIRCLE LINE OPENS / From Botanic Gardens to Harbourfront

At long last, the Circle Line Mass Rapid Transit has opened, with two stations within walking distance very near home. The first day, Saturday 8 October 2001, saw the Botanic Gardens Station open its doors, and it was a smooth sailing trip all the way to Harbourfront station. Some day, I'll even go the other direction to Esplanade.

The exterior of Botanic Gardens MRT station, which is as green as one might expect.

The spacious interior and an appopriately floral motif in the Botanic Gardens station.

The trains are shorter, with fewer carriages, but equally roomy.

As the trains are driverless. passengers in the front carriage are afforded a view of the oncoming tracks, as the train careens at high speed from one station to the next.

Finally, we reach Harbourfront station and VivoCity, all within 25 minutes.

CHOPIN IN SINGAPORE

Chopin amid the palms.

Statue of Frederic Chopin 

at the Singapore Botanic Gardens,
a work by Polish sculptor Karol Badyna.

This is believed to be the only statue
of a composer in Singapore.

A close-up of Chopin's hands.

What is Chopin playing?

His Polonaise in F sharp minor, Op.44.

The inscription reads:

Frederick Chopin (Szopen) 1810 – 1849
The most eminent of Polish composers
This sculpture is a gift of 

the people of Poland to Singapore,

in memory of music's greatest tone poets
Made possible by the generous support of:
Halina and Miroslaw Pienkowski and the

Embassy of the Republic of Poland

in Singapore, October 2008

By the look of Chopin's demeanor and posture,

he should have been playing one of his Mazurkas.