Negaraku
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Negaraku English: My Country |
|
|---|---|
| National Anthem of |  Malaysia |
| Lyrics | Multiple authors |
| Music | Terang Bulan |
| Adopted | 1957 |
"Negaraku" (English: My Country) is the national anthem of Malaysia. "Negaraku" was selected as a national anthem at the time of the Federation of Malaya's independence from Britain in 1957. The tune was originally used as the state anthem of Perak[1]. The tune was also used for a popular song of that time, Terang Bulan[2], which was later borrowed by the song Mamula Moon, sang by Felix Mendelssohn and his Hawaiian Serenaders.
Contents |
[edit] Lyrics
| Malay | Literal English translation [3] |
|---|---|
|
Negaraku, tanah tumpahnya darahku, |
My country, land where my blood was spilt, |
[edit] History
At the time of independence, each of the eleven States of Malaya that made up the Federation had their own anthem, but there was no anthem for the Federation as a whole. Tunku Abdul Rahman, at the time the Chief Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, organized and presided over a committee for the purpose of choosing a suitable national anthem. On his suggestion, a worldwide competition was launched. 514 entries were received from all over the world. None were deemed suitable.
Next the committee decided to invite selected composers of international repute to submit compositions for consideration. The composers chosen were Benjamin Britten, Sir William Walton who had recently composed the march for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, the American opera composer Gian Carlo Menotti and Zubir Said, who later composed the National Anthem of Singapore. They were all turned down too.
The Committee then turned to the Perak State Anthem. On August 5 1957 it was selected on account of the "traditional flavour" of its melody. New lyrics for the National Anthem were written jointly by the Panel of Judges— with the Tunku himself playing the leading role.
At the time this melody was, while still the State Anthem of Perak, Allah Lanjutkan Usia Sultan.
The song had been very popular on the island of Mahé in the Seychelles. where the Sultan of Perak had formerly been living in exile. He heard it at a public band concert on the island, a song to a popular French melody, originally composed by the lyricist Pierre-Jean de Béranger (1780-1857), who was born and died in Paris. When a member of the Perak royal family was invited to a reception in Europe, he was asked what his state anthem was. Realizing that his state did not in fact possess an anthem, he, in order not to appear backward in front of his hosts, proceeded to hum the aforementioned tune. Thus was an anthem born.
The song was later introduced into an Indonesian Bangsawan (Opera), which was performing in Singapore. In no time at all, the melody became extremely popular and was given the name Terang Bulan. Aside from its dignity and prestige as the Perak State Anthem, the song became a Malayan "evergreen", playing at parties, in cabarets and sung by almost everybody in the 1920s and 1930s. (Today, of course, since independence, it is not played as a popular melody, and any such use is proscribed by statute.)
The anthem was given a new quick march beat in 1992, which proved unpopular. Some Malaysians have gone as far as to say that the altered tempo resembled circus music, and was the subject of much derision. In July, 2003 it was reported in the Malaysian press that the anthem would be rearranged for the second time and the title and lyric would be changed from Negaraku to Malaysiaku. There was a public outcry of dismay and the change of name was scrapped, but the anthem was re-arranged and returned to the pre-1992 pace by composer Wah Idris.
[edit] Earlier Recording
The anthem was also recorded in c. 1936 by Conductor Paul Lambard (also known as Paul LOMBARD and His Orchestra), and sung by Joan Wilton (in English) duet with Geotti Brooke (in Malay) released by Columbia Records (Magic Notes series) in New South Wales, Australia; Carrying the song number (CT2763); Columbia Catalogue Reference D0-3460. The song runs 2:50. This record was found to be earlier than the recording of Felix Mendholsson's version of Mamula Moon as in the late 40's most songs are themed and modified to the Hawaiian tune and mainly was done by most famous orchestra conductors such as Victor Sylvester and Mantovani.
The significance of this piece of recording where it is only playable on gramophones running at speed 78 rpm is that the background music conducted so similarly to the Malayan style of music background, setting the originality and authentic Malayan atmosphere to the tune. The song was performed by non-natives (Australians) singing in both English and Malay. The lyrics present a love story setting between the two lovers. The song is titled as 'Malayan Moon' and the other side of the record is the song 'Planting Rice' also performed by Paul Lambard accompanied by Vocal Chorus by Joan Wilton. This piece of record was a copyright under Southern Music Co. of Sydney.
[edit] Trivia
In 2005, an antique disc collector found an old song (whose music is identical to the Negaraku) from his collection.[1] It later become a news headline for local newspaper. The song was a Hawaiian Song call 'Mamula Moon' believed the record dated back to the 1940s.
[edit] Parody
In 2007, a YouTube video featuring Negaraku caused controversy in Malaysia. The video, named Negarakuku, features Wee Meng Chee, a Malaysian student studying in Taiwan along with the national flag and weaves the Negaraku into a Chinese language rap.
[edit] See also
- "Perajurit Tanah Air" aka "Inilah Barisan Kita" (Patriotic songs)
[edit] References
[edit] Citations
- ^ Unity and progress are anthem themes. The Sunday Times. August 25, 1957
- ^ Unity and progress are anthem themes. The Sunday Times. August 25, 1957
- ^ Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The National Anthem Of Malaysia - Negaraku. Retrieved January 6, 2008.
[edit] Other
- M. J. Bristow, F.R.G.S., "History of 28 national anthems".
- BBC, "New Anthem Marks Malaysia's Independence Day"
- Negaraku was a rip off from Mamula Moon?
[edit] External links
- Description of Negaraku by AllMalaysia.info
- Negaraku with vocals
- Negaraku performed by the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra at YouTube
|
|||||
