'Gubahanku'

featuring

Kuala Lumpur Guitar Ensemble II

with

Uros Docinovic

9 December 2008, 8.30 pm

Isabelle Heroux

11 December 2008, 8.30 pm

Tuanku Abdul Rahman Auditorium, Malaysia Tourism Centre, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur

Photos  and my thoughts documenting this event by Simon Cheong

For the first time, two concerts were organised, one on 9 Dec and the other 11 Dec, with the Society's annual camp from 12 to 14 Dec. Phew! wasn't it great for Malaysian guitarists with such a hive of activity? Well at least for those who were interested to be a part of such activities, it surely was. For those who did not know of them, they should keep track of our goings-on from our website; those who were a part of these activities should bring their friends along; while those who are skeptical - come and find out for yourselves. These activities made the week as festive as any International Guitar Festival  although not named as such...hmm... maybe I should do some renaming...Malaysia International Guitar Festival and Camp. Well, this should be its unofficial name from now on…?

These two concerts came under the title Gubahanku, presenting Kuala Lumpur Guitar Ensemble II with their guests - Uros Docinovic (9 Dec) and Isabelle Heroux (11 Dec). This concert presented the world premiere of the late John Duarte's Variation on an Indonesian song op124 (Gubahanku).

In 1996, the Society had the good auspices of Toyota Malaysia's sponsorship. With this sponsorship I was able to have my teacher,  world renowned composer, critic and a celebrated personality of the guitar world at that time John Duarte, here in Malaysia for the Guitar Camp. The icing on the cake was that I was to commission a piece for a world premiere concert here in Kuala Lumpur. I suggested to John to write a variation on a Malaysian song and I chose Gubahanku but very quickly I realised that it is not Malaysian but Indonesian. Getaran Jiwa by P. Ramlee was chosen instead and I had to ask Jack to stop work on Gubahanku. When he arrived in Malaysia, Jack handed to me not only the world premiere piece that was commissioned 'Variation on a Malaysian song op 125 (Getaran Jiwa)' but also a completed ' Variations on an Indonesian song op 124 (Gubahanku)' and said that I could have both for the price of one - such was Jack's generosity.

It had taken 12 years, and in 2008 we had the world premiere of the late John Duarte's Variations on an Indonesian song op. 124 (Gubahanku) presented by Simon Cheong and the second 'appearance' of Variations on a Malaysian song op 125 (Getaran Jiwa) presented by Ernest Thomas.

It is only now that I have come to realise how very important these two compositions are to us Malaysians. These are probably still the only two compositions by a world renowned composer written for Malaysians and one based on a Malaysian song - particularly for the guitar if not in general for all other instruments in Malaysia (correct me if I am wrong - are there any world renowned composer who has written for the piano or violin based on a Malaysian song?)

The importance of both these compositions are now immortalised in print as I have published both the pieces with the permission of the Duarte family. 

Kuala Lumpur Guitar Ensemble II is also the only ensemble in the classical guitar fraternity that is promoting Malaysian songs through their concerts. This is through the arrangements made by Simon Cheong as in Tanah Pusaka, Mak Inang and Putera Puteri. We do hope that after having spearheaded this movement we will have more of such, so that the repertoire of the classical guitar will have our own Malaysian pieces. This brings to mind a piece of music I received from one of our ex-campers, Ken Foo, who wrote an original composition for five guitars entitled Mysterious Land  for KLGE II when KLGE II were composed of five guitarists. Unfortunately, we did not get round to learning it and now KLGE II is made up of four guitars. Maybe one day it will be played.

The concert on 9 Dec that featured KLGE II with our guest Uros Docinovic was a nightmare for organizers, namely myself. I got news of the possibility that Uros may not be here for the concert about 3 weeks before the concert and it was finally confirmed the week before. Uros spoilt our plans by leaving us high and dry at  the last moment. As his own tour plans did not work out, he wanted money from us that we were unable to meet. This took place despite the fact that he had already agreed to my earlier offer and confirmed his attendance!. It was ungentlemanly.

Emails went to and fro but to no avail... Can you imagine the torture I had to go through…!? The newspapers had run an article with a very big picture of Uros and Isabelle (I emailed this to him), tickets were bought, invitations were sent out, posters were up, tickets and programme booklets were printed, and I had no guest for the concert on the 9th…! As an organizer, I had to keep the show going and so within a week or two, KLGE II geared itself up to play a full-length concert. Mind you, as organizers and also one of the performers, it was really not an easy task. I was totally stressed out! At the concert, I had to inform the audience that Uros could not be here for personal reasons and I was very worried about their reaction. Fortunately, it was not that bad. Well, I was informed that there were complaints from the audience that they had come to hear Uros and were very disappointed. All I can say is that this was beyond my control, not only did Uros not turn up here in Malaysia, he was supposed to be at the Singapore International Guitar Festival too!

Anyway, my sincere apologies once again to the people who were disappointed with Uros's no-show but the concert had to go on and although KLGE II had very little time to prepare themselves for a full-length programme, we tried our best to put up a good concert.

Photos of the concert on 9 December 2008... here are shots taken with Sew Hong's camera by our 'official photographer' Christopher Cheong...

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1. Here is our MC, Ms Oi Suan Gaik. She had the most unenviable task of informing the audience of Uros's no-show. Kuala Lumpur Guitar Ensemble II had only 2 to 3 weeks to prepare themselves to give a full -ength concert. Usually, with a guest for the concert, KLGE II would play the first 15 minutes or so of the concert, presenting Malaysian tunes, before the guest took over. KLGE II would only give a full-length concert if the concert was organised  for KLGE II only and not with a guest. This time the most important feature of this concert entitled Gubahanku was the world premiere of John Duarte's Variation on an Indonesian song (Gubahanku) op 124.

2. Ernest Thomas playing his solos. John Duarte's  Variations on a Malaysian song op 125 (Getaran Jiwa) gets a second appearance in concert after an absence of twelve years.

3. KLGE II playing  trios - See Sew Hong , Ong Peng Yang and Ernest Thomas.

4. Ong Peng Yang playing his solos.

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5 & 6. KLGE II playing quartets - presenting Malaysian tunes arranged by Simon Cheong. Malaysians playing Malaysian compositions promoting our cultural heritage through the expansion of the classical guitar repertoire.

7. Simon Cheong presenting the world premiere of John Duarte's  Variations on an Indonesian song op 124 (Gubahanku). Finally, for the guitar fraternity especially here in Malaysia, this piece by John Duarte together with Variations on a Malaysian song op 125 is published and is now available. These two pieces should be the last pieces that are published unless there are still unpublished works from the late John Duarte private collection that is yet to be published and will serve as a memory of him and his contribution to Malaysia - to my knowledge the first world renowned composer to have written on a Malaysian tune (and an Indonesian tune) for the classical guitar commissioned by the Classical Guitar Society (Malaysia).

8. KLGE II ending the concert

Here are more shots of us from Tzen Yi's camera...

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These shots of us are from Siew Hian's camera...

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Let me introduce you to our ushers -

28. Low Kean Soon with Jeremy Cheong  

29 & 30. Here is Jeremy  and Kean Soon collecting tickets 

31. Low Yang Li and Low Kean Soon - although with the same surname, they are not related! 

32. The ushers together - Jeremy, Low Yang Li, Kean Soon and one of our official 'professional' photographers, Christopher Cheong.

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33. Here is our counter. Apart from tickets, the counter had books and Savarez strings on sale.

34. Here is Leong Yee Hoo manning the counter. 

35. Mr. Poh (in batik) with others looking at the books we had for sale.

36 & 37. In the changing room behind the stage before the concert.

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38. Our VIP guest Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Hussain and friend with my wife, Evelyn Cheong.

39. Tickets were given out to various homes (orphanages) in the Klang Valley so as to provide an educational activity and to create musical awareness among the underprivileged. Here are the very important ladies involved with these homes that I am saying hello to.

40. Isabelle Heroux with Evelyn. She arrived from Canada in time for the concert

41. Meeting of old friends.

Here are our photographers...we are blessed to have my ex-students Koh Tzen Yi and Soh Siew Hian, who have got themselves involved in photography ... I would like to thank them for taking the photographs. Of course, my son Christopher had a great time and such fun using Sew Hong's very expensive camera!

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42. Koh Tzen Yi in action.

43. He is seen here twiddling his fingers - bored from waiting for the concert to start!

44. I will have a go at Sew Hong's Kohno.

45. Soh Siew Hian in action.

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46. I will not twiddle my thumb, better to check my gear!

47. Here he is at the counter with his new bride.

48. Christopher having fun in his role...

49. We shall not forget Tan Chee Kian, our very important videoman...