The oldest music faculty in the country celebrated its 30th anniversary with a concert featuring its creme de la creme, writes Faisal Asyraf
IT was a joyous occasion for Universiti Teknologi Mara’s Faculty Of Music which celebrated its 30th anniversary with a concert at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, Kuala Lumpur.
The event saw the faculty, incepted in 1984, living up to its name as the oldest music faculty in the country.
Present were Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir and his consort, Tunku Ampuan Besar Negri Sembilan Tuanku Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud.
The concert featured the creme de la creme of the faculty, including its alumni and friends such as soprano Syafinaz Selamat, flautist Siti Hajar Mohamed Seperah, music conductor Tazul Izan Tajuddin, composer Khairil Johari Johar, saxophonist Ahmad Muriz Che Rose, and pianist Michael Veerapen.
There was a smorgasbord of orchestra performances including choir and traditional music such as keroncong and gamelan. There was also a segment on jazz.
The evening kicked off with UiTM Symphony Orchestra’s Mars, from The Planets, composed by British composer Gustav Holst.
Helmed by Colombian conductor Juan Daniel Montoya Valencia, the tense, battle-like rhythms depict Mars in its astrological and mythological significance as The Bringer Of War. The orchestra, comprising diploma and degree students, gave a stellar performance.
Renowned vocalist Khairil Johari Johar later joined the ensemble to sing the mellow and soothing Mawar Putih, his own composition. Inspired by Siti Zaleha Hashim’s poem of the same name, it clinched the first prize in the song competition Sayembara Puisi, organised by Dewan Bahasa Dan Pustaka.
The ensemble was joined by saxophonist Ahmad Muriz, an alumnus who pursued his further studies at Berklee College Of Music in Boston in USA. Ahmad Muriz caressed the notes with the smooth, pleasing sounds of the woodwind instrument.
Flautist Siti Hajar and pianist Mei Lin Hii later enthralled the audience with the melancholic Le Flute De Pan, composed by Jules Monquet. A technically-demanding piece with a wide range of colours, dynamic changes and varied articulations, it was superbly executed by the soloists.
Siti Hajar, the alumnus of the faculty, earned her Master in Flute (Performance) from the University of Huddersfield (UK), and has performed as a soloist and as principal flautist with the RTM Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra, alongside Datuk Ramli Sarip, Datuk Siti Nurhaliza, and Datuk Jamal Abdillah, among other big names.
Backed by UiTM Symphony Orchestra under Tazul Izan Tajuddin, Syafinaz mesmerised with Lagu Tanpa Kata. Clad in a gold, shimmering dress, she effortlessly hit the high notes on this composition by Tazul’s “Lagu” cycle, written in 1994 (altogether, there are four pieces, written between 1994 and 1998).
The evening continued with performances by the UiTM Unity Jazz Project, an all-star band comprising those in the faculty as well as alumni and friends.
Comprising Michael Veerapen on piano, Zailan Razak and Fly (bass), Ahmad Zapuwan Ismail a.k.a Wan Gigi (guitar), John Thomas (drum), Marques Young (trombone) and Patrick Tebrack (saxophone), the band gave a contemporary take on classic numbers by Tan Sri P. Ramlee.
The band also played an original tune, Amalgamation, composed by Rizal Exuan Zulkifly Tony, fondly known as Rizaltony. The music gives emphasis to the smooth melodic structure, harmonic background and solid groove and saw the members displaying their skills with great elegance; they earned themselves a standing ovation.
The orchestra also showcased The Secret Cast, composed by Amanina Alwani Badaruddin. Other performances included UiTM’s Rendezvous Choir (Ngajat Tampi, Seri Bunian and Mas Que Nada), the Makyung Ensemble (with Lagu Bertabuh Makyung, Lagu Mengulit, and Lagu San Gendang), Orkes Krontjong Irama Sari (Bisikan Hati) and UiTM Faculty Of Music Gamelan Club (Khabar Angin Tenggara).
Bisikan Hati and Khabar Angin Tenggara were composed by A.R Ismail and Mohd Yusri Hamid respectively.
The evening ended with the launch of the faculty’s new logo and its 30th anniversary celebration book by Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.