KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) will showcase a set of contemporary works by local composers in an online show, MPOPlaysOn: Malaysian Composers Series — Chamber Concert.
A collaboration with the Malaysian Composers Collective (MCC), the concert will be presented in three parts on Nov 5, Nov 12 and Nov 19 via the MPO's official YouTube channel, MPO TV.
The upcoming concert is part of the MPO's ongoing appreciation towards local orchestral compositions from rich and diverse backgrounds.
It provides a platform for the Malaysian composers' works for further exposure in addition to nurturing the growth of local talents.
Part 1 will feature Jessica Cho's Edge of Lunacy (depicting the moods of one who is descending into madness), Tai Yun Ming's Frizzy Crystals (depicting the frizzy and crystal-like texture of the surreal imagery of cloud ice) and Rayner Naili's Nunuk Ragang (inspired by the legend of a red banyan tree that sheltered the first settlement of people in Sabah).
This presentation continues with Part 2 featuring works by Caeleb Tee's Hymn of the Remnants (illustrating the remnants of people praising the beauty of the earth), Raja Alif's Tanjak — Mahkota Alam (a score that acts as a form of visual art on how the composer sees the traditional Malay male headgear) and Samuel Cho's Threadsafe (inspired by a computer programming concept of thread safety).
Part 3 will be presenting works by Ilysia Tan's Addiction to Perfection (a piece derived from the purpose of observing physical and social concerns), Ainolnaim Azizol's Fragments I (a work written for the 2014 Asian Composers League Young Composers Competition in Japan) and Vivian Chua's Dance of the Wind and Sea (a fusion work of Malaysian melodic and rhythmic patterns with Western harmonies).
MPO's resident conductor Gerard Salonga serves as the concert's artistic advisor and each work will be accompanied with a video commentary by its composer.
This marks the second MPO collaboration with the MCC this year; with the first being the MPOPlaysOn: Malaysian Composers Series — Vol.1 digital audio collection in May.
Established in 2007, the MCC has been the leading force in promoting Malaysian composers at home and abroad over the past years.
Representatives from the MCC have participated at the Young Composers Competitions and the Asian Composers League festivals around the region.
The MCC has also pioneered a series of milestone initiatives including the nation's first-ever Young Composers Workshop with HSBC Bank (2008) and the KL Contemporary Music Festival (2009) with Goethe Institut.
Visit www.mpo.com.my or follow the MPO on social media (Facebook, Instagram and YouTube) for the latest updates.