Art Music in Malaysia

Contemporary Art Music in Malaysia

Other than the work of Lam Ming Huey and my own research for this website, there has been a lack of research into music composed by Malaysian composers trained in the Western classical tradition. Study of western musical instruments is common in urban areas, with the piano being by far the most commonly studied instrument with high levels of achievement obtained by students assessed through the British international music examination boards such as the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and the Trinity College of Music of London. The electronic organ is also popular, mainly through the efforts made to promote study and sales of these instruments by various Japanese companies such as Yamaha Music which also conduct their own music examinations. Some schools, especially those in urban areas, have also started their own school bands resulting in a rise in numbers of school children playing wind band instruments such as instruments of the brass family, the flute and the clarinet. However, the actual numbers of those playing such instruments is small, and qualified teachers are few and far between. Double reed instrument players and teachers are virtually non-existent. String players are still relatively uncommon, though the violin and cello are gaining some popularity among the upper middle class. Instruments commonly found in popular music, such as the guitar, bass guitar, electronic keyboards and drum set, however do have a relatively large numbers of players, students and teachers.

As far as instrumental ensembles in the western art music tradition go, the only orchestra comparable in standard to those in developed nations in terms of repertoire or ensemble technique is the Kuala Lumpur based Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. The National Symphony Orchestra set up by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism in Kuala Lumpur was the former standard bearer for Malaysian orchestras, comprising a small group of about 30 full time musicians, augmented by various freelancers for their classical concerts conducted some 4 times a year. The Orkestra Kuala Lumpur set up by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall is another full time orchestra based in KL. Their repertoire consists mainly of pop music, though they do also sometimes perform concerts of serious music. The amateur Kuala Lumpur Symphony Orchestra and PJ Youth Symphonic Band as well as the university based Putra Symphony Orchestra all hold art music concerts about twice or three times a year. In northern Malaysia, the amateur Penang Symphony Orchestra and Penang State Orchestra provide the main focus of art music ensemble activity. Other existing professional orchestras include the Radio Television Malaysia Orchestra and other ad-hoc orchestras formed from time to time that play mainly non-classical music. Radio Television Malaysia also has an orchestra based in Kuching, Sarawak, which also houses the amateur Orkestra Kuching. The state also sponsors an orchestra in Sibu, Sarawak. Other than the MPO, none of the above mentioned orchestras have a full set of full time players in all sections. In general, there is a lack of trained and qualified Malaysian musicians in all sections of the orchestra and until the value of such musicians is recognised and amply rewarded, the present writer feels that to aim to achieve standards common in the West may be but a far fetched dream.

Chamber music groups are as few and far between as full size orchestras. Various temporary chamber groups are formed for specific performances by the MPO. Other ensembles are the Camerata, which in 1995 was made up of a sub-section of players from the National Symphony Orchestra but which has since been disbanded, the Kuala Lumpur Chamber Players which consist of a few local musicians who team up with various foreign invited musicians to give concerts from time to time, and the Baroque Choristers which as their name suggests focus on western baroque vocal music. None are full time professional bodies. Besides these, the amateur Selangor Philharmonic Society organizes large scale choral based productions comprising classically trained as well as untrained local singers from time to time.

In conclusion, on the whole, the state of western art music instrument study in Malaysia can be said to be still backward and underdeveloped.

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Contemporary Art Music in Malaysia Other than the work of Lam Ming Huey and my own research for this website, there has been a lack of research into music composed by Malaysian composers trained in the Western classical tradition. Study of western musical instruments is common in urban areas, with the piano being by far the most commonly studied instrument with high levels of achievement obtained by students assessed through the British international music examination boards such as the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and the Trinity College of Music of London. The electronic organ is also popular, mainly through the efforts made to promote study and sales of these instruments by various Japanese companies such as Yamaha Music which also conduct their own music examinations. Some schools, especially those in urban areas, have also started their own school bands resulting in a rise in numbers of school children playing wind band instruments such as instruments of the brass family, the flute and the clarinet. However, the actual numbers of those playing such instruments is small, and qualified teachers are few and far between. Double reed instrument players and teachers are virtually non-existent. String players are still relatively uncommon, though the violin and cello are gaining some popularity among the upper middle class. Instruments commonly found in popular music, such as the guitar, bass guitar, electronic keyboards and drum set, however do have a relatively large numbers of players, students and teachers. As far as instrumental ensembles in the western art music tradition go, the only orchestra comparable in standard to those in developed nations in terms of repertoire or ensemble technique is the Kuala Lumpur based Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. The National Symphony Orchestra set up by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism in Kuala Lumpur was the former standard bearer for Malaysian orchestras, comprising a small group of about 30 full time musicians, augmented by various freelancers for their classical concerts conducted some 4 times a year. The Orkestra Kuala Lumpur set up by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall is another full time orchestra based in KL. Their repertoire consists mainly of pop music, though they do also sometimes perform concerts of serious music. The amateur Kuala Lumpur Symphony Orchestra and PJ Youth Symphonic Band as well as the university based Putra Symphony Orchestra all hold art music concerts about twice or three times a year. In northern Malaysia, the amateur Penang Symphony Orchestra and Penang State Orchestra provide the main focus of art music ensemble activity. Other existing professional orchestras include the Radio Television Malaysia Orchestra and other ad-hoc orchestras formed from time to time that play mainly non-classical music. Radio Television Malaysia also has an orchestra based in Kuching, Sarawak, which also houses the amateur Orkestra Kuching. The state also sponsors an orchestra in Sibu, Sarawak. Other than the MPO, none of the above mentioned orchestras have a full set of full time players in all sections. In general, there is a lack of trained and qualified Malaysian musicians in all sections of the orchestra and until the value of such musicians is recognised and amply rewarded, the present writer feels that to aim to achieve standards common in the West may be but a far fetched dream. Chamber music groups are as few and far between as full size orchestras. Various temporary chamber groups are formed for specific performances by the MPO. Other ensembles are the Camerata, which in 1995 was made up of a sub-section of players from the National Symphony Orchestra but which has since been disbanded, the Kuala Lumpur Chamber Players which consist of a few local musicians who team up with various foreign invited musicians to give concerts from time to time, and the Baroque Choristers which as their name suggests focus on western baroque vocal music. None are full time professional bodies. Besides these, the amateur Selangor Philharmonic Society organizes large scale choral based productions comprising classically trained as well as untrained local singers from time to time. In conclusion, on the whole, the state of western art music instrument study in Malaysia can be said to be still backward and underdeveloped. Musical Instrument Index \| MIDI Archive Original Malaysian SoundFonts \| SEARCH Musical Malaysia		Musical Context Music by Genre Music by Region Bibliography Author Credits SITE MAP Guestbook
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