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View on a single page 30. 08. 2007
The 60 Second Plug: "The MPO Meets Wayang Kulit" by Juliet Jacobs
Young, über-talented, award-winning, and attractive to boot, composer Adeline Wong tells us about "Empunya yang beroleh Sita Dewi”, her latest piece which is to be performed by Kumpulan Wayang Kulit Anak Seri Baju Merah and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra this Merdeka weekend.
~~~
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born and bred in Kuala Lumpur, I studied music at the Eastman School of Music, New York, and at the Royal College of Music, London. I play the piano.
Did you have an epiphanic moment when you decided that music was the way for you?
Not really... music is my dream. I remember when I was four years old, my mum bought a piano as she was taking piano lessons. I would climb up the piano stool and play on the piano every day. Mum enrolled me for music lessons and my musical journey began…
Do you have a day job?
Yes, I teach music at various music colleges and universities in KL.
Tell us about the conception, pregnancy and birth of your piece "Empunya yang beroleh Sita Dewi". What was the inspiration behind the piece? How would you describe its sound?
Eddin Khoo, the founder of Pusaka, brought me in to this project, and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) commissioned “Empunya yang beroleh Sita Dewi”.
"Empunya yang beroleh Sita Dewi", revolves around the famous "Ramayana" episode, where Sita is abducted by the demon-king Ravana. My music follows these incidents: the Lament of Sita and Rama, leading towards the battle of Rama and Ravana, and finally closing with the return of Sita.
In this work, I am drawn to the simplicity and charm of modes and folk melodies. The two main melodic instruments -- oboe and serunai -- are treated freely in a call and response manner. The oboe represents the voice of Sita, while the serunai represents Rama's.
I find the staging and setting of the Wayang Kulit to be an intimate one and have scored for a chamber group -- one oboe, one clarinet, one bassoon, two percussion, harp, strings, serunai, gendang, gedumbak, geduk, kesi, gong and canang. Tok Dalang's voice is also used as an instrument, where he narrates, chants, sighs, speaks and sings.
This upcoming concert has Dalang Saupi bin Isa and his troupe, the Kumpulan Wayang Kulit Anak Seri Baju Merah as guest performers. Can you tell us a bit more about them? How exactly do they fit in with your piece in this performance?
Kumpulan Wayang Kulit Anak Seri Baju Merah is led by tok dalang Saupi. They are wonderful musicians and have a positive attitude towards new settings, considering we come from very different backgrounds. They are warm, kind and generous. I have been up to Kelantan twice (together with Eddin and the MPO) to rehearse with them.
During a recent trip to Kelantan, the Wayang troupe invited us to a kenduri which they performing in. They fed us with scrumptious Kelantanese food and then we started rehearsing our work. This is the first time I'm working with traditional Malay musicians.
The compositional process of this work was an interesting one. I am given free reign over the music and instrumentation. My music then moves the Tok Dalang to set his interpretation of the story and the tone and pace of how he narrates it. The musicians behind Tok Dalang Saupi support him with dramatic and expressive musical gestures.
What is it like working with them and the MPO, to bring your piece to life?
It was truly a one of a kind experience, and I had the chance to work with MPO’s principal conductor, Matthias Bamert. Rehearsals have been a challenge as the Wayang troupe don’t read notes. In this work, I am not only the composer but I will also be conducting the Wayang troupe - the first time I’m conducting in a public performance, ever!
What else can we look forward to in this performance?
The wonderful shadow play by Tok Dalang Saupi, the spontaneity of the Wayang musicians, the dedication of the MPO performers… You just have to come for the performance!
How would you describe the feeling, of seeing and hearing your work performed by others?
Out of this world!
What is a typical rehearsal for this concert like? Manic?
For this, I will quote Tok Dalang Saufi -- “Susah tapi seronok.”
~~~
Watch the sparks fly as classical music meets eastern folklore and fantasy in this concert, which plays from Fri 31 Aug until Sun 2 Sep, 2007. Tickets at RM80, RM60, RM40 and RM20. For more information on the show, please click here.
~~~
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born and bred in Kuala Lumpur, I studied music at the Eastman School of Music, New York, and at the Royal College of Music, London. I play the piano.
Did you have an epiphanic moment when you decided that music was the way for you?
Not really... music is my dream. I remember when I was four years old, my mum bought a piano as she was taking piano lessons. I would climb up the piano stool and play on the piano every day. Mum enrolled me for music lessons and my musical journey began…
Do you have a day job?
Yes, I teach music at various music colleges and universities in KL.
Tell us about the conception, pregnancy and birth of your piece "Empunya yang beroleh Sita Dewi". What was the inspiration behind the piece? How would you describe its sound?
Eddin Khoo, the founder of Pusaka, brought me in to this project, and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) commissioned “Empunya yang beroleh Sita Dewi”.
"Empunya yang beroleh Sita Dewi", revolves around the famous "Ramayana" episode, where Sita is abducted by the demon-king Ravana. My music follows these incidents: the Lament of Sita and Rama, leading towards the battle of Rama and Ravana, and finally closing with the return of Sita.
In this work, I am drawn to the simplicity and charm of modes and folk melodies. The two main melodic instruments -- oboe and serunai -- are treated freely in a call and response manner. The oboe represents the voice of Sita, while the serunai represents Rama's.
I find the staging and setting of the Wayang Kulit to be an intimate one and have scored for a chamber group -- one oboe, one clarinet, one bassoon, two percussion, harp, strings, serunai, gendang, gedumbak, geduk, kesi, gong and canang. Tok Dalang's voice is also used as an instrument, where he narrates, chants, sighs, speaks and sings.
This upcoming concert has Dalang Saupi bin Isa and his troupe, the Kumpulan Wayang Kulit Anak Seri Baju Merah as guest performers. Can you tell us a bit more about them? How exactly do they fit in with your piece in this performance?
Kumpulan Wayang Kulit Anak Seri Baju Merah is led by tok dalang Saupi. They are wonderful musicians and have a positive attitude towards new settings, considering we come from very different backgrounds. They are warm, kind and generous. I have been up to Kelantan twice (together with Eddin and the MPO) to rehearse with them.
During a recent trip to Kelantan, the Wayang troupe invited us to a kenduri which they performing in. They fed us with scrumptious Kelantanese food and then we started rehearsing our work. This is the first time I'm working with traditional Malay musicians.
The compositional process of this work was an interesting one. I am given free reign over the music and instrumentation. My music then moves the Tok Dalang to set his interpretation of the story and the tone and pace of how he narrates it. The musicians behind Tok Dalang Saupi support him with dramatic and expressive musical gestures.
What is it like working with them and the MPO, to bring your piece to life?
It was truly a one of a kind experience, and I had the chance to work with MPO’s principal conductor, Matthias Bamert. Rehearsals have been a challenge as the Wayang troupe don’t read notes. In this work, I am not only the composer but I will also be conducting the Wayang troupe - the first time I’m conducting in a public performance, ever!
What else can we look forward to in this performance?
The wonderful shadow play by Tok Dalang Saupi, the spontaneity of the Wayang musicians, the dedication of the MPO performers… You just have to come for the performance!
How would you describe the feeling, of seeing and hearing your work performed by others?
Out of this world!
What is a typical rehearsal for this concert like? Manic?
For this, I will quote Tok Dalang Saufi -- “Susah tapi seronok.”
~~~
Watch the sparks fly as classical music meets eastern folklore and fantasy in this concert, which plays from Fri 31 Aug until Sun 2 Sep, 2007. Tickets at RM80, RM60, RM40 and RM20. For more information on the show, please click here.
User Comments
| posted by Permata Dalam Tanah, Tue 04.09.200712:43:17 PM |
| i wish the wayang kulit piece was much longer as it was so fascinating! hopefully more performance combinating malaysian traditional and international art will be organised.
|
| posted by Wong Chen, Sun 02.09.200723:23:29 PM |
| I saw this on the 31st and it was mesmerising!
|
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