> RAGA > GER VAN LEEUWEN > MUSIC OF MALAYSIA IN MODERN MOOD
SLEVE NOTES:
Malaysia, a dynamic multi-racial independent nation in South East Asia, steeped in tradition and culture has a fascinating reservoir of folk music. Many of these have lived through the years as evergreens, sung and danced to at various occasions and festivities.
I was reticent about the idea of translating the folk trends of Malaysian music into the modern idiom, but the challenge of today's music makes it so irresistible.
Although new approaches have been made with Malaysian songs over both Radio and Television, the record-buying audience has yet to find a good Malaysian instrumental LP - collaborating good musicianship and scoring.
The real task was to go to the heart of the matter and present the old popular music with a new perspective without losing the melody. In this respect, the talents of conductor/arranger Ger Van Leeuwen (with whom I discussed the formulation of this LP) have imbued these Malaysian songs with a sound that sparkles with and rhythm.
This album is not an attempt to superimpose two idioms of music. It is rather an approach in presenting the gay and spontaneous simplicity that is common in all 'good music', in this case the folk and popular music of Malaysia.
Listen to this introduction of "Malaysia", in modern mood in STEREO
AHMAD MERICAN
Television Malaysia.
Malaysia, a dynamic multi-racial independent nation in South East Asia, steeped in tradition and culture has a fascinating reservoir of folk music. Many of these have lived through the years as evergreens, sung and danced to at various occasions and festivities.
I was reticent about the idea of translating the folk trends of Malaysian music into the modern idiom, but the challenge of today's music makes it so irresistible.
Although new approaches have been made with Malaysian songs over both Radio and Television, the record-buying audience has yet to find a good Malaysian instrumental LP - collaborating good musicianship and scoring.
The real task was to go to the heart of the matter and present the old popular music with a new perspective without losing the melody. In this respect, the talents of conductor/arranger Ger Van Leeuwen (with whom I discussed the formulation of this LP) have imbued these Malaysian songs with a sound that sparkles with and rhythm.
This album is not an attempt to superimpose two idioms of music. It is rather an approach in presenting the gay and spontaneous simplicity that is common in all 'good music', in this case the folk and popular music of Malaysia.
Listen to this introduction of "Malaysia", in modern mood in STEREO
AHMAD MERICAN
Television Malaysia.
KUMPULAN LAGU MALAR SEGAR
collection of evergreen songs