Orkestra Melayu Singapura

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


The Orkestra Melayu Singapura (OMS) was formed in 1991 to preserve and promote Malay music in Singapore. Currently under the baton of Mohd Jais Minsawi, OMS is the only orchestra in Singapore to perform Malay music with traditional and modern instruments, and popular Western, Chinese and Indian music with traditional Malay instruments.

In September 2001, the Orchestra formed the OMS Traditional Ensemble to specialise in traditional Malay repertoire. This ensemble actively stages its touring programme in schools, community and state events. Its Arts Education Programmes like “Introduction to Gamelan Music” and “Gema Warisan – The Malay Musical Heritage” are popular choices with many schools in Singapore. In March 2004, the Orchestra formed a youth wing, the OMS (Belia), to introduce Malay youth to different genres of Malay music – be it traditional, contemporary or pop music. The OMS (Belia) consists of youth from secondary schools, junior colleges, polytechnics and Institutes of Technical Education.

Most of the musicians of OMS are youth who are dedicated to preserving the essence of traditional Malay music while contributing to its sustained development in Singapore. Since its formation, OMS has given more than 500 local performances at major national and community events. It is a favourite at functions organised by the Malay community. It has also been very well received at all its overseas performances in countries such as Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong and Korea for its engaging and soulful rendition of traditional and modern Malay music. In 2007, OMS was invited to stage a special concert at the Tong Tong Festival in The Netherlands.

Mr Hawazi Daipi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower is the patron of OMS.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] The first decade

In August 1991, as part of its attempt to preserve and promote Malay music in Singapore, the People's Association began looking for musicians to join the Orkestra Melayu Singapura (OMS). Applicants had to be able to play a brass or woodwind instruments, and once selected they had to attend weekly training at the PA. Following that first audition in 1991, a twenty-three-strong member OMS was formed in September 1991.

Mohd Mokhtar Abdullah, a composer and musician, was its first conductor. The orchestra's repertoire includes original compositions and traditional Malay pieces. The OMS gave its debut performance at the World Trade Centre auditorium on 11 April 1992. That debut led to subsequent concerts played during cultural events and festive occasions, and on occasions the OMS collaborated with other local and regional orchestras.

In April 1994, the Orkestra held the Malam Gurindam Syawal (Night of Syawal Lyric Poetry) in conjunction with the Hari Raya Puasa celebration. The concert had a twenty-one-item programme played by its thirty-piece orchestra. However, the OMS was criticised for not using any traditional Malay instruments in its programme. To this, conductor Mokhtar lamented the difficulty in enticing experienced Malay traditional musicians to join the group. Most of its members were amateur musicians and attended practice sessions on voluntary basis. They consisted of, among others, school students, undergraduates and taxi drivers, from the teens to the late 40s. They were given an allowance for attending training sessions, while the orchestra received only a nominal sum as payment for its performance. In addition, invitations to perform were infrequent. On average, it received about four invitations to perform a year.

In 1996, the OMS adopted a new strategy in its effort to endear the young to asli or traditional music. In its annual concert entitled Gurindam Melayu Asli (Traditional Malay Folk Songs) held in April that year, the Orkestra fused the sounds of traditional and contemporary Western instruments. Their arrangements boasted of traditional instruments such as the gong, and different kinds of drums like ketuk, boning and kenong, and Western instruments such as the violin, clarinet, saxophone, piano and guitar. In addition, two original compositions, Jebat and Persimpangan, premiered at the concert.

In June 1997, it participated in the Festival of Asian Performing Arts. It performed Crossroads, which was a combined effort from musicians from the Singapore Indian Orchestra and Choir and the PA's Youth Chinese Orchestra. Crossroads was a fusion piece made up of Chinese, Indian and Malay elements, and was conducted by L. Vaidyanathan, one of India's leading composers and conductors. Once again in 2002, L. Vaidyanathan conducted a fusion-piece concert, Sangamam, that combined Indian, Chinese, Malay and Western musical elements.

In February 1999, the OMS, together with the PA's Malay Dance Group, participated in the Cathay Pacific Chinese New Year Parade in Hong Kong. They performed a dance and musical performance called Kampung Celebrations, which told the story of a traditional circumcision ceremony for Malay boys.

[edit] Tenth Anniversary and beyond

The OMS marked its tenth anniversary in April 2001 with a concert called Dancegema Warisan (Echoes of Heritage) at the Singapore Conference Hall. The programme, led by its conductor Mohd Jais Minsawi, comprised mainly new compositions with a few traditional pieces added in. The concert featured guest artists from Sumatra playing instruments such as talempong, sarunai, bangsi and saluang. 2001 also saw the formation of a specialised wing called the Kombo Orkestra Melayu Singapura. This new offshoot of the OMS focuses on the fusion of modern and traditional Malay music.

In June 2002, the OMS participated in the People's Association Malay Activity Co-ordinating Council (MESRA)'s musical Gentarasa (Chimes of Expressions). The musical was a showcase blending elements of the Malay performing arts. Performing arts groups, such as those for dance and silat, moved to traditional music played and sung live during the show. Gentarasa is now an annual event since that first concert in 2002.

The OMS was also part of a Singapore-Malaysia-Indonesia ensemble called Perahu - Breaking the Waves. This was performed in October 2002 as part of the one-month-long festival that marked the opening of Singapore's Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay.

[edit] Conductor

[edit] Conductor since 1995

[edit] Conductor Emeritus 1991 to 1995

Mohd Mokhtar Abdullah

[edit] Guest Conductor

Dr Benjamin Zander, August 2000

[edit] Performance

[edit] Major Concerts

1992  : Malam Rentak Dan Irama

April 1994  : Malam Gurindam Syawal

1995  : Dendang Nusantara

April 1996  : Gurindam Melayu Asli

June 1997  : Crossroads

1998  : Irama Nostalgia

February 1999  : Kampung Celebrations

September 1999 : Malam Warisan

November 2000  : Senandung Irama

April 2001  : Gema Warisan

2002 - 2007  : Gentarasa

October 2002  : Perahu - Breaking the Waves

Dagang Nusantara

November 2007  : Fiesta Rama with ASWARA

[edit] References

[edit] External links

 This Singapore-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.