Art Music Composition in Malaysia: A Focus on Three Composers
Most researches conducted on Malaysian music thus far concentrates on the area of history and development of traditional music and popular music. There has been a lack of research in art music composed by Malaysian composers trained in the Western art music tradition. The objective of this resear...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
2000
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/8229/1/FEM_2000_7_IR.pdf |
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| Summary: | Most researches conducted on Malaysian music thus far concentrates on the
area of history and development of traditional music and popular music. There has
been a lack of research in art music composed by Malaysian composers trained in the
Western art music tradition. The objective of this research is to present the
contribution of three Malaysian art music composers and the role they play in the
formation of a Malaysian identity in the world of art music composition.
This research systematically documents the work of three Malaysian
composers, namely, Minni Ang, Chan Cheong Jan and Valerie Ross. These
composers were chosen to represent different styles of art music composition in
Malaysia. The musical backgrounds of the composers are studied in order to
understand the processes that led them to art music composition. A few compositions
that reflect their compositional styles are chosen and analysed.The research methodology used in this work begins with the collection of
data and information on the background of the composers and their compositions. A
few analysis methods are used to analyse the compositions. These include chord
analysis, formal analysis, and twelve-tone analysis.
The result of this research indicates that the three composers presented in this
thesis compose in different styles. Ang uses various composition styles in different
works. Chan quotes Malay folk tunes or Malay dance rhythms in his music and
presents them in Western classical style. Ross prefers to include traditional
instruments in her compositions and composes in cross-cultural fusion style.
Although the composition styles of these three composers are different, their aims to
assert their own identities in the world of art music composition are similar. As
indicated by the three different compositional styles of the above composers, it is
assumed that there is yet no common direction or trend that exists in the field of art
music composition in Malaysia. As a result, it is still hard to define what stage the
development of art music composition in Malaysia is at, today. With the
establishment of tertiary programs in music and support from government and
private sector, more Malaysian art music is projected to be composed in future,
leading to a trend that should slowly emerge in the field of Malaysian art music
composition. |
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