Orkes Konsert Majlis Kesenian 'Selections from Malam Irama Melayu' Full Album (1961)
Artist: Orkes Konsert Majlis Kesenian
Title: Selections from Malam Irama Melayu (An Evening of Malay Music)
Label: Radio Malaya (RMT 3)
Year: 1961
Full album presented by MuzikNusantara and sponsored by Khir Johari (Singapore). More music for High-Quality free streaming at http://muziknusantara.com
Track listing and timings (scroll down to the end for details):
00:06 - “The Bersanding Suite”
10:32 - “Selections of Popular Malay Songs”
17:20 - “Modern Malay Melodies”
25:26 - “Dawn to Darkness”
Our third transcription disc introduces the first recording of Malay music ever by a 45-piece orchestra. These selections came from the second “Malam Irama Melayu” Concert staged in 1961 by the Arts Council of the Federation of Malaya in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Hall at Kuala Lumpur, the Federal capital.
The actual recordings were made during the final rehearsals in the auditorium of Radio Malaya. The programme of the Concert proper was so arranged that both traditional melodies and modern works and arrangements by new Malayan composers were performed. During the Concert, folk music was played in the traditional small group manner, but modern compositions were included in the evening’s programme to show the development and trend of Malay music in recent years.
Leading musicians, composers and arrangers from all over Malaya are invited to participate in the annual “Malam Irama Melayu” Concert and many fine works have been the result.
The Orchestra heard in this recording was known as the “Orkes Konsert Majlis Kesenian” (lit: Arts Council Concert Orchestra) and comprised members of the Royal Federation of Malaya Police Band, the Radio Malaya Orchestra and leading professional and amateur musicians from the Federation of Malaya and Singapore. The two conductors were Alias Arshad of the Royal Federation of Malaya Police Band and Alfonso Soliano of the Radio Malaya Orchestra. Cover shows the Orchestra performing in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Hall.
The production and recording supervision of “Malam Irama Melayu” were by Ahmad Merican, Music Supervisor of Radio Malaya.
Side A
“The Bersanding Suite” (10’27”) - Video starts at 00'06\"
A musical tapestry of Malay wedding songs arranged by Dick Abell, former leader of the Radio Singapore Orchestra. Items include \"Pengantin Bahru\", \"Di-Renjis-Renjis\", \"Anak Ikan\", \"Malam Bersanding\" and \"Selamat Pengantin Bahru\".
“Selections of Popular Malay Songs” (6’49”) - Video starts at 10'32\"
Comprising \"Chahaya\" (by Ahmad Jaafar), \"Nusa Ku\" (by Syed Mahadzir) and \"Papaya\" (by Indonesian composer: Adikarso). Arranger: Gus Styn, Pianist/Conductor of the Radio Singapore Orchestra.
Side B
“Modern Malay Melodies” (8’05”) - Video starts at 17'20\"
A pot-pourri of modern Malay compositions by school-teacher Jimmy Boyle from Penang, orchestrated by Charles Lazaroo.
“Dawn to Darkness” (9’58”) - Video starts at 25'26\"
Composer Alfonso Soliano attemps to depict a typical Malayan scene which opens with the Muslim call-to-dawn-prayer (drum-work) leading to the hustle and bustle of the day, then to a panorama of beautiful twilight, ending in a medley of gay evening dances.
