Exploring the Music Composition of 'Prosa Air Mata'
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Pertanika J. Soc. Sci. & Hum. 27 (S1): 35 - 44 (2019) SOCIAL SCIENCES & HUMANITIES Journal homepage: http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/ Review Article Composing Music for Puisi Melayu: Exploring the Music Composition of ‘Prosa Air Mata’ Camellia Siti Maya Mohamed Razali1* and Marzelan Salleh2 1Department of Music, Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia 2Music Department, Cultural Centre, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ABSTRACT The aesthetic science of human ecology constantly attempts to find the perfect balance of the current dynamic human environment. In the quest for balance, contemporary ideas have taken over traditional thoughts and identity issues arise in the community, for example in the arts. The art of music and puisi Melayu (Malay poetry) have always strived on the quest for aesthetical beauty. Therefore, the intent of composing music for ‘Prosa Air Mata’, a poetry written by Dato’ Usman Awang, is justifiably appropriate. The combination of two different art forms - music and poetry - into a single artwork embodies the creativity and emotive qualities of music and text. Responding towards the issues of identity, the prominence of a Malay theme, especially in the choice of a Malay language source of text, is juxtaposed with a contemporary music ensemble not found in Malay culture. The resulting vocal composition of ‘Prosa Air Mata’ shows the composer highlighting Malay literature into a more contemporary idiom of music and arts. Keywords: Contemporary music, Malay poetry, music, music composition, music and text INTRODUCTION ARTICLE INFO Malay Theme, Western Idiom The spirit of tradition and cultural identity Article history: Received: 10 September 2018 brought about the intent of having a Malay Accepted: 18 June 2019 theme highlighted into an otherwise non- Published: 23 July 2019 traditional Malay or non-traditional eastern music idiom. A Malay source of text E-mail addresses: [email protected] (Camellia Siti Maya Mohamed Razali) was chosen, as it is the most direct way [email protected] (Marzelan Salleh) *Corresponding author of instigating the Malay identity, and ISSN: 0128-7702 e-ISSN: 2231-8534 © Universiti Putra Malaysia Press Camellia Siti Maya Mohamed Razali and Marzelan Salleh language can be the most profound tool of Bachik wrote a number of lagu puisi and identity clarification of a culture or country. his most famous one is titled Kekasih from The contradicting elements of both text Dato’ Dr. Usman Awang’s poetry of the and music deepen and their anticipated same name. Ibrahim Bachik composed musical result becomes even more curiously Kekasih also in the pop genre. Otherwise, in attractive. intimate settings, there exists poetry clubs Puisi Melayu is a traditional Malay art in Malaysia such as Seksan Gallery, and form (Osman, 1987) and has endured the path Gaslight Café, by poetry enthusiasts wishing of modernization and still striving through to renew poetry appreciation in the society. the creative works of its poets such as the Acoustic instruments such as guitar or flute late Dato’ Dr. Usman Awang (1929-2001), sometimes accompany poetry readings Malaysia’s National Laureate. However, in with simple music in the background to a pursuit for puisi Melayu to achieve more highlight the atmospheric experience. successful acclaim internationally and to Other than music, Dato’Dr, Usman Awang’s prove its flexibility and longevity, the music poetry has also been staged in 2015 for a composition of Prosa Air Mata is put on a theatre performance called Dari Bintang different platform. This will showcase the Ke Bintang, organised together by Institut puisi Melayu in a different form of music Terjemahan dan Buku Malaysia (ITBM), composition with instrumentation not from Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), and the Malay culture. A juxtaposition of Malay Yayasan Usman Awang (Usman Awang text with Western contemporary music is Foundation). Besides that, obviously there also an innovative way to start expending has not been an attempt to physically bring the resources of Malay literature. on puisi Melayu to a bigger and wider In the current situation, continuous contemporary classical music scene and efforts are being done nationally to promote justify its aesthetic values. Malay literature, for example by Dewan As a closest comparison of music and Bahasa dan Pustaka’s (DBP) annual poetry in the region, the example of art song competition, Sayembara Mencipta Lagu in Indonesia is taken in view. Indonesian Puisi, which is a competition for composers composer Mochtar Embut is a prolific figure to create songs for puisi Melayu. The of music in Indonesia, composing more than singers will then perform the songs with a hundred Indonesian art songs, otherwise lyrics from the words of the puisi Melayu. known as lagu seriosa in Indonesia, during Normally 2-4 instruments, or a medium his lifetime (Syed Mohammed, 2017). He sized ensemble, or a small orchestra will composed music for texts of the Indonesian accompany the singers. Typically the genre language or Bahasa Indonesia. His texts of this competition is the popular music came from the literature of Indonesian (pop music) style. For example, local poets such as WS Rendra, Chairil Anwar, pop composers such as the late Ibrahim and Usmar Ismail. Mochtar Embut’s lagu 36 Pertanika J. Soc. Sci. & Hum.27 (S1): 35 - 44 (2019) Composing Music for Puisi Melayu seriosa compositions include Diwajahmu music, as music can be a place for reflection Kulihat Bulan, Di Sudut Bibirmu, Tiada and contemplation. Therefore, music does Bulan di Wajah Rawan, Irama Desa, Malam suggest an extra-musical meaning beyond Menara, Setitik Embun, Senyum dalam itself. derita, Aku Ingin, and Kasih dan Pelukis just to name a few. Art Song, Lied, Vocal Chamber Music. Art songs, often considered a genre of Music and Text music, flourished during the European th Mode of Expression. Music is a natural Romantic period of the 19 century, are outlet for expressive communication. commonly performed by solo voice and However, text or words, as we know is one piano accompaniment. These through- of the most direct forms of communication composed songs are usually set to a poem as it uses human language. As long as with interdependant vocal and piano parts. humans understand a common spoken Art songs have been composed in many language, survival and sustainability of languages, and are known by several names. an individual or a community is feasible. While in France it is sometimes known Poetry on the other hand is an art form as Melodie, in Germany in particular, art th manipulating the aesthetic qualities of songs developed in the 19 century and are the human language in addition with its known as Lied or Lieder in its plural form. semantically charged meaning. Well-known composers of the Lied are There are many considerable mainly Johannes Brahms, Franz Schubert, considerations and compositional issues to Robert Schumann, and Hugo Wolf. Franz negotiate before actually turning text into Schubert is considered the greatest Lied music. In music especially in the case of composer as he wrote over 600 songs such vocal music, the correlation between text as, Death and the Maiden, Gretchen at the and music is strongest and inseparable. Spinning Wheel, Little Heath Rose, The Unavoidably and quite naturally, composers Erlkönig and The Trout. High literary and will at most times associate the intended artistic qualities in written verses of love, music with meanings of the words. beauty, and nature by notable German poets Poetry and music are two forms of art that such as Goethe, Schiller, and Heine, ignited have lasted over the centuries much to their composers to transform these poetic images aesthetic and expressive qualities, very much into creations of songs and the use of piano inclined towards the emotional and soulful enabled them to enhance and intensify the needs of humans. Their emotive capabilities literary meaning. have an outstanding communicative power Vocal chamber music on the other hand that has transcended human civilizations. is songs composed for solo voice with the Music’s enduring power may be because accompaniment of other solo instruments humans have constantly found solace in in various combinations of a chamber Pertanika J. Soc. Sci. & Hum. 27 (S1): 35 - 44 (2019) 37 Camellia Siti Maya Mohamed Razali and Marzelan Salleh ensemble and not restricting to standard Later in the 20th century, other composers ensembles such as a string quartet. The such as Gyorgy Kurtag (Kafka’s Fragments accompanying instruments in vocal chamber for soprano and violin, and Scenes from music are manually and decidedly chosen a Novel for soprano, violin, double bass by the composer hence the unconventional and cimbalom) and Charles Ives (Sunrise mix of instruments. These songs composed for baritone, violin and piano) continue to for voice and instruments (e.g. clarinet and compose vocal chamber works. violin) are referred to as vocal chamber music, and are usually not considered as Malay Vocal Chamber Music - Puisi art songs. This speaks the same for songs Melayu. Therefore, this paper intends to originally written for voice and orchestra show that puisi Melayu could be brought where they are called as orchestral songs on to another degree of performance and and not considered art songs as well unless artistic value. Puisi Melayu compositions their original version was for solo voice and can be performed in international concert piano. The characteristic of a vocal chamber halls to an international audience, and even music work involves musicians keeping be performed by international musicians, the balance between separate and secure which fortunately has been done recently. instrumental parts but in the meantime not This paper then describes the compositional being isolated from others in terms of non- methods and considerations employed verbal communication and moving focusing by the composer in composing Prosa Air attention in the same rhythmic impulse, Mata.