Selected solo piano works by contemporary Malaysian and Indonesian composers from 1979 to 2007: An introduction.

Abstract

The appendices provide an unofficial list of known solo piano works by Malaysian and Indonesian composers, as well as a list of piano works by other composers who have been influenced by the music or culture of the region.

The introduction to the document provides background information on the development of art music in Malaysia and Indonesia including a brief look at the challenges of colonialism as it pertains to art music. The review of related literature includes correlated studies and dissertations, as well as relevant books, articles, and Internet sources that have explored similar study in Indonesia, Malaysia, and worldwide.

The purpose of the study is to bring attention to contemporary art music for piano by composers from Malaysia and Indonesia that is available to professional performers, students, and teachers for study. Much of this literature has been little known to date and yet is worthy of study.

The discussion of each contemporary work includes comments from the composer obtained through a questionnaire and subsequent interviews and emails. Final chapters provide significant composer perceptions and opinions on the state of contemporary music in the two countries, and include observations from other prominent musicians familiar with the regional scene.

This study provides an introduction to contemporary solo piano works by seven Malaysian and Indonesian composers. The composers from Malaysia are Chong Kee Yong, Ng Chong Lim, Tazul Tajuddin, and Tan Chee-Hwa. The composers from Indonesia are Slamet Abdul Sjukur, Michael Asmara, and Ananda Sukarlan. Seven solo piano works and three solo piano collections are discussed, all of which have been published, recorded, or premiered at a significant event. The pieces vary in difficulty and style, and they range from highly complex (e.g. Chong's Metamorphosis III) to pedagogical (e.g. Tan's A Child's Garden of Verses) to avant-garde (e.g. Asmara's A Little Piece for Pianoforte). Composer biographies represent a significant part of the study.