Roots of Malaysian music

2009/10/20

AWARD-winning choral group The Young KL Singers (YKLS) will be back at The Actors Studio in Lot 10, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur for a new show from Nov 12 to 15.

The group will be presenting Rhythmic Roots, the 11th showcase presented by its 50 performers since YKLS’ inception in 2002.

Rhythmic Roots is a musical journey through the various ethnic groups and cultures of Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, China and India, and highlights the richness of East Asian music traditions.

Peranakan folk songs, which trace the development of Chinese culture in Malaysia and Singapore, will be explored and highlighted in the showcase. The Actors Studio’s artistic director Joe Hasham will be the event director.

Rhythmic Roots reunites all of the group’s founding members to emphasise the importance of knowing one’s musical and cultural roots, and how the Malaysian musical heritage has been shaped by various influences.

YKLS publicist Nicklaus Au said: “In previous shows such as Simply Andrew Lloyd Webber and Breaking It Down, we have focused on Broadway and Western music. This year however, we’re inspired to focus on the roots of Malaysian music.”