Sunday February 26, 2006
The birth of new music
BY JASON CHEAH
NEW music is always something to look forward to, and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra Forum for Malaysian Composers offers a great way to generate just that – and good quality music, too.
The second edition of this biennial event will premiere six new musical works on Saturday at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, KLCC, at 8.30pm. The works will be performed by the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) chamber ensemble under the baton of its associate conductor, Kevin Field, who also acts as the forum’s director.
The six composers selected are Mohd Yazid Zakaria, Ng Chong Lim, Syed Sharir Faisal Husin, Teh Tze Siew, Yii Kah Hoe and Yuzaifullah Yusof.
The forum is organised by the MPO’s Education & Outreach Programme (Encounter); this marks the completion of Phase I of the two-phase biennial event, which saw six Malaysian composers being commissioned to compose music for an ensemble.
A panel of three composers – Saidah Rastam (Malaysia), Gerard Brophy (Australia) and Fraser Trainer (Britain) – selected the six short listed candidates from over 20 applications from Malaysians all over the world and have been the candidates’ artistic guardians ever since.
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The standard of entries for the MPO composers’ forum was exceptionally high this year, says Kevin Field. |
“This is a major opportunity for all six composers to develop their individual voices and through their individual experiences, write something unique for the Malaysian music scene and, potentially, the orchestral repertoire worldwide.”
In this first phase, the composers have been asked to write – in collaboration with the panel and the musicians of the MPO – for a mixed ensemble of no more than 19 instruments as well as orchestrate a well-known piano prelude by French composer Claude Debussy. That is quite a challenge compared with writing for full orchestra that this second phase will offer.
“There are basic skills that have to be developed and refined in Phase One before we are confident enough to let the candidates loose on a larger group,” Field explained.
“Orchestras the world over these days are performing in various guises as quartets, brass ensembles and new music groups and it is essential that we offer this experience to emerging Malaysian composers,” he added.
All the new works are continually assessed through each rehearsal by the panel that, together with the MPO, has a major say in the process.
The works to be performed are Bamboo Forest (Teh Tze Siew), Apocryphal (Yuzaifullah Yusof), Rimba (Ng Chong Lim), Mahsuri (Mohd Yazid Zakaria), “A” Note Promenade (Yii Kah Hoe) and As-Saff ( Syed Sharir Faisal Husin).
At least three candidates will go on to Phase Two and write music for a full orchestra to be performed in the next MPO season (06/07). One composer will then be selected to participate at the next MPO International Composer’s Award in 2008. Malaysian Chong Kee Yong’s Starry Ripples beat four international entries in the inaugural International Composer’s Award in 2004.
Saturday’s premiere is open to the public, and, at the end of the show, the audience will have the chance to vote for its favourite piece of music.
“This is an essential part of the process,” Field said. “The composers must never forget that they are part of an entertainment industry and that the audience is a major factor if they are to be remembered next week, let alone the next century.”
Tickets for Saturday’s concert are priced at RM10 for all seating categories. Bookings can be made by calling the box office at 03-2051 7007, faxing to 03-2051 7077 or sending an e-mail to dfp_boxoffice@petronas.com.my.
Meanwhile, there will be open rehearsals for those interested in witnessing first-hand behind-the-scenes activities and gaining some insight into how a premiere is prepared. The open rehearsals are from Tuesday to Friday, from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm. Admission to these sessions is free.
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