Orkes Melayu Kuala Lumpur combines four traditional Malay music genres in its performance. Photos: NIEZAM ABDULLAH/The Star
Orkes Melayu Kuala Lumpur is representing Malaysia at the Sharq Taronalari International Music Festival 2024 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, which is currently ongoing until Aug 30.
The group combined four traditional Malay music genres in its performance held last night (Aug 27).
Syed Shahril Faisal Syed Hussein, the group's vocalist and bassist, told StarLifestyle that it featured the traditional Malay rhythms to create a diverse and vibrant show.
"We integrated four elements of Malay rhythms and reinterpreted them to bring more energy to the music. Our set includes Dondang Sayang, the song Ya Salam with a Zapin rhythm and Mek Mulung. We closed with a Joget favourite, Ala Emak Kahwinkan Aku," he said.
According to Shahril, the entire set was carefully arranged to adhere to the competition's 15-minute time limit. He noted that the jury responded positively to its performance.
Orkes Melayu Kuala Lumpur comprises Oly Fizly Othman on percussion, Nurfarhana Abu Bakar as the second vocalist, Aris Kalisa Razli on guitar, Adam Shahrir Omar on accordion, and Muhammad Saufi Nasyari on violin. The group operates under the cultural unit of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
Sharq Taronalari, meaning Melody of the East, is Central Asia's largest music festival, held in the historic Registan Square, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
The festival, which began in 1997, is organised biennially by Uzbekistan's Ministry of Culture and has grown to attract some 300 participants from around 80 countries.
The winners will be announced during the grand finale on Friday. The top prize is a cash award of US$10,000 (RM43,500).
There will be two first place winners who will walk away with US$5,000 (RM21,700) each; while two second place winners will take home US$3,500 (RM15,200) each; and three third place winners will be awarded US$2,000 (RM8,700) each.
In a previous edition of the festival in 2007, Malaysia's Seri Maharani Ghazal Group from Muar, Johor, made the nation proud by securing third place.
Shahril emphasised that despite the intense competition, the members' primary goal is to promote traditional Malay music on an international stage.
"We don’t necessarily expect to win, but we take pride in knowing that our traditional music is being recognised and appreciated at the global level," he said.
The group operates under the cultural unit of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
