Principally a percussionist, Alasdair Malloy’s love of music has allowed him to work in many different areas of the field. SU AZIZ has the story.

ALTHOUGH he is of Scottish descent, Alasdair Malloy has lived in London for more than two decades and worked in many different areas of music.

However, he is, by his own admission, principally a percussionist.

“As a percussionist, I get to deal with different instruments such as orchestral, folk, rock and pop as well as those that don’t fit conventional categories.”

During his three decades in the business, he has “had to smash plates, set off a fire extinguisher, play a melody on a balloon by blowing it up and then manipulating the nozzle as the air escapes, and control the burners on a hot-air balloon to fit in with the piece!”
Impressive, no?

Father to two teenagers, Malloy was a student of The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

“I auditioned for and was offered a job as percussionist with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra when I was 20. I moved to London to freelance at 24.”

Now aged 50, Malloy admits to enjoying the challenges of this sort of “extreme” music-making.

“I am able to study a situation quickly and decide on how to achieve results that are best for the performance. It was in such a situation that I first had to make wine glasses ‘sing’ and this has taken on a life of its own in my work with the glass harmonica.”

A curious instrument, by the way, but more of that in a bit.

Malloy’s start in music was, in his own words, inauspicious.

“Although I failed my grade 1 piano at age five, I had more success with the clarinet which I started at 11 as well as the bagpipes,” said Malloy during his recent performance with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra.

“The full title of this instrument is Highland Bagpipes, but you can call them Scottish bagpipes or just bagpipes if you prefer.”

Although he still tinkered on the piano for fun, and restarted lessons at 13, Malloy was fascinated by other instruments.

“I used to get my friends to give me a go on whatever they played. I was asked to help out in the school orchestra percussion section when I was 14. I also remember the moment when I was allowed to explore the store room with all the percussion instruments. It was like letting me loose in Aladdin’s Cave. This was a significant turning point in my musical life.”

The great thing about being a percussionist, according to Malloy, is that more often than not you are the only person playing that instrument.

In the orchestra most other instruments are represented in pairs or groups.

“Percussion instruments are also able to produce louder an quieter sounds than other instruments.”

Malloy does not only arrange classical music pieces for his performances.

“I have such wide-ranging experience in so many areas that I draw from almost every situation. For example, when working with rock and pop artists, I am able to offer a classical approach and when working with orchestras, I often encourage a ‘looser’ approach where appropriate. The distinction between the two is that in classical music, great care is taken over every note and everything is treated with respect while in rock, the ‘feel’ or ‘groove’ is the key thing and the performance reflects the feeling of the moment rather than a considered interpretation of the composer’s intentions.

“As presenter of orchestral concerts I choose music of all types as long as it is ‘good’ and has a specific purpose in my overall plan. I have a number of reliable sources and trusted arrangers and for many years now I have been doing my own arrangements for film and television themes, pop songs, traditional music from several countries as well as a number of novelty pieces and quizzes. It is a long and involved process and definitely a labour of love.”

Recently, Malaysians have had the pleasure of experiencing Malloy’s brand of musical arrangement.

“I have conductor Kevin Field to thank for for my long and happy relationship with the MPO. Kevin has seen me in action many times with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in England and when he became Associate Conductor with the MPO, he put my name forward as someone with original ideas in this field. My first visit here was in 2002.”

Obviously the relationship has been maintained by both sides.

“I have worked with the MPO for more than six seasons. Among my concerts were Bugs (about insects), Top Scores (about sports), Pirates Ahoy (about pirates) and It’s About Time, Harry Potter Fantastic Creatures, with the most recent on dance called The World at Our Feet.”

Malloy not only arranges special pieces for children and families, but also programmes for different age groups and adults.

“I think it is important that anyone who attends orchestral concert does not feel restricted by concerns about behaviour, convention and dress. It is more important to listen with an open mind and show respect and appreciation for the music and the performers. I try to take the audience on a journey by using a conversational style of presentation together with moments of interaction combined with a strong visual element.”

For Malloy, arranging music for children and families holds the same values as arranging school outings for other families.

“They must look forward to it and arrive with a sense of excitement. For preparation, I will have supplied a song for children to have learned or made some suggestions for dresses which fits the theme. For participation and reflection, I hope that everyone will talk about what they have experienced afterwards and that they will have strong feelings for the music they have heard and the way it was presented.”

Although, he continued, his key value is discovery, “there should be something new for everyone, performers and audience alike. I certainly don’t think that the audience should know or recognise every piece and I also want the orchestra to play things they haven’t played before so that they too share the sense of adventure.”

What does he think parents can do to encourage their children to get interested in music?

“Arrange for them to be able to try an instrument. Surely, there cannot be anyone who would not feel great satisfaction in being able to make a sound, or maybe even manage a few notes or simple melody on a musical instrument? And then the discovery that the more time and effort you put in, the better you get. What a great life lesson that is! Add on to that some personal expression and your individual musical personality begins to emerge.”

Malloy’s next visit to Malaysia is slated for 2009 or 2010 due to his busy schedule.

His ultimate goal?

“To continue doing what I do with the orchestras and organisations I already work for and hope that I will continue to work with new ones in new places.”