With Electone, Flute and Piano
By Serge Norguard. Filed in Events, Personal |
[all images can be clicked for a bigger image]
From across the Asia Pacific rim, countries such as Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia, Singapore and Mexico converge onto the country that is truly Asia which is Malaysia. Over 50 years and in over 40 countries, Malaysia plays host to the Junior Original Concert (JOC) which began in 1972 at Nemu-no-Sato, Japan.
With every year that has passes by since its inauguration, the compositions played has remarkably improved. With more than 35,000 compositions from every corner of the globe and with styles and form ranging from piano to electone solo to ensemble of different musical instrument, songs and orchestral music has been performed.
It has been a great honor for Serge to attend the Asia Pacific Junior Original Concert 2007. He would like to first thank Uncle James of Loopymeals for providing Serge, a media pass to this event that was held yesterday at the Petaling Jaya Civic Centre. Thank you Uncle James.
This concert was suppose to start at 8 pm, but because of Y.A.Bhg Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor’s tardiness, it began at about 8.45pm instead. According to the RTM crew that was there, they were covering this event only because of Datin. With that said and the fact that Datin was struggling to keep her cool while speaking in a foreign mother tongue, Serge will commend her speech which rings very true. Of which she has stated :
“Music is a universal language enrapturing their audiences with a timeless beauty that transcends all barriers”
The first performance entitled A Magical Journey was performed by our very own Teo Ze Fei on electone. For the knowledge of those who did not attend this event, Teo Ze Fei is only 9 years old. The motive for this composition is based on dream which he had.
“I was inspired to compose this song by the magical encounters that I dreamt of one day. In my dream, I was cycling to a magical castle hanging in the sky. On my way, I came across a starry place, funny clowns and animals, magical fairies, flying staircases, and running shadows.” - Teo Ze Fei
The next performance was an ensemble comprising of electone, piano and Chinese flute. Composer Angel Chow, 7 years old with Jolie Chow and Elaine So Yee Ning of Hong Kong performed the title composition; My Lovely Little Doll. This was followed by Gabriel Yeap Jia Ern from Malaysia who thundered the audience with a drumming beat called Drums of Heaven on piano.
With her dad being a soldier, this inspired young Arbhanuch Yuthavong to compose Celestial Warrior. She says that, this song is specially compose because she hopes that there will be a “Celestial Warrior” that will come from heaven to help her dad. This performance was played on electone and is one of the most touching piece Serge has heard.
Miyuki Mazaki from Japan with Cheerful Geese on Piano, Lu Pei-Ting of Taiwan with Elegant Waltz on electone and Yoh Hao Zi from Malaysia with Bustling City and Peaceful Suburb on Piano performed before the intermission.
There was a 15 minute break and when the audience returned we were given an education in music. On the stage stood Stephanie Tan Jia Yi (Malaysia) and Truong Shuming Violette (Singapore) who were given notes picked up from a bowl and immediately compose a composition from it.
Then came Moon Jae Wong and Lee Youjung of Korea with Journey in the Sea, played with piano and flute. Motive of this composition by Moon was her love for the sea and her wanting to journey in it.
Singaporean, Truong Shuming Violette was next and on piano she played Dreamland. This composition was inspired by her childhood memories. Truong Shuming Violette says “I think everyone has his or her own dreamland. If only all the dreamlands could be joined together”. Next up was an upbeat, rhumba+samba style music by Mexican, David Oviedo Castillo and Alejandra Algeria Salcedo called Sweet and Sour Sauce. David was on piano and Alejandra was on electone.
With the help of Kenric Ansel Lee Taylor, Stephanie Tan Jia Yi played a piano duet that comprises of three parts in this Traditional Malay Dance Suite. The first, Gamelan, the second,Kuda Kepang and the third was Keroncong. The inspiration began after a concert rehersal at the Istana Budaya. There, Stephanie Tan was amazed by the many types of traditional Malay instruments.
The last piece of the day, was from Michelle Mintoro of Indonesia. The Woodland Symphony on electone was inspired with a dream about Michelle inside a forest where the trees and winds were singing to welcome her. When she woke up the next morning, this composition came about.
At the end of the night, all participants came out for the final bow and the compulsory photo shoot with the Guest of Honor.
Serge went home after that with a happy heart and an awesome media pack. This media pack contains a mug, a pendrive that includes a speech from Mr. Yasushi Mizuki, Managing Director of Yamaha, pre-press release information, performance pictures and details of the event. Again Serge would thank Uncle James for this.
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