On October 26, MCC president Adeline Wong introduced participants at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory's symposium to the world of Malaysian piano music, captured in the new anthology of 21st Century Scores, Free Hand Anthology I.
Her talk, Plotting Malaysia’s Musical Tapestry and The Free Hand Anthology, was part of the Singapore varsity's symposium 'TELLING STORIES - PERFORMERS(‘) PRESENT INTERNATIONAL ARTISTIC RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM from 23 - 26 October, 2019.
According to the YST website, "Narratives – whether historical, political, or musical; whether fact or fiction – are inextricably bound to the ways we experience the world, and the art that translates these experiences.
"In the decade since we began hosting the triennial Performers(‘) Present symposium, artistic research has been undergoing rapid and ground-shifting transformations, with the performer’s voice becoming ever more present. As with our previous symposia, Telling Stories seeks to address and evolve the kaleidoscopic issues facing 21st-century performers, as they reflect on their practice in the context of significant shifts in politics, communications and technology, and performance practice."At her session, Wong recounted Malaysia's journey through its growing new music scene that finally led to the fruition of MCC's long-held plans to publish local works that would be available for study and performance, and act as a lasting document of the nation's achievements in modern music.
Several of the pieces in the book were demonstrated and samples of the publication, which at the time was in the process of printing, were shown to the participants and discussed.
Free Hand Anthology I is to be released on November 15, and 300 copies sponsored by Yayasan Sime Darby will be distributed free to various musical institutions such as universities, music schools, educators and performers and students at home and abroad.
