Zubir Said's violin with bow and case

This violin belonged to Zubir Said, the composer of Singapore’s national anthem, Majulah Singapura. Zubir first learned to play the violin in Sumatra, where he played in keroncong ensembles, a traditional Indonesian musical form that blends European string instruments with local sounds. After migrating to Singapore, he continued playing the violin as part of the City Opera bangsawan troupe at Happy Valley Park in Tanjong Pagar. The violin remained central to his musical career as he composed and performed across various genres.