Simon Cheong’s Lecture-Recital

at

International Guitar Forum Hong Kong

10 -14 July 2018

presented by

International Guitar Research Centre, University of Surrey

In partnership with

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts

at

Altamira International Guitar Symposium Hong Kong

Organized by

Altamira Art Foundation

 

I will once again present  John Duarte’s contribution to the classical guitar repertoire in Malaysia  at the International Guitar Forum, Hong Kong 10-14 July 2018. This is my second outing after having presented at International Guitar Research Centre (IGRC) Conference, Surrey University, UK on 18th to 23rd March 2016. The historical placement of these two pieces are as below but to read the full paper I have written, please refer to my articles page (Simon Cheong’s lecture-recital at IGRC Conference 2016)

 

The Importance of these pieces

Both of these pieces by John Duarte, Variations on a Malaysian Song, op. 125, ‘ Getaran Jiwa’  and Variations on an Indonesian Song, op. 124, ‘Gubahanku’ create a milestone for the classical guitar in Malaysia by just being the first two international concert pieces written for Malaysians. This significance is more keenly felt  when one realises that the classical guitar repertoire in Malaysia was next to nothing in existence until the arrival of these two pieces! Even more so, as in a historical context, John Duarte was an international figure.

The importance of these two pieces is further enhanced as they  were composed as a variation based on a Malaysian and an Indonesian song, giving international exposure to both the songs and its composers (the Malaysian singer, songwriter and actor, P. Ramlee and the Indonesian singer songwriter Broery Marantika).

Lecture-Recital on

John Duarte’s contribution to the classical guitar repertoire in Malaysia:

Variations on a Malaysian song op. 125, ‘Getaran Jiwa’  and

Variations on an Indonesian song op. 124, ‘Gubahanku’

by

Simon Cheong

Abstract

These two variations are the only two original pieces written for the classical guitar in Malaysia based on a Malaysian and an Indonesian song. There are no other original compositions written for the classical guitar based on either a Malaysian or an Indonesian song in Malaysia from my knowledge. Furthermore, as an event of note, the world premiere was performed in his presence in Malaysia by a Malaysian for Malaysians.

The presentation of this paper will be based on:

  1. Performance of these two pieces in a lecture-recital format by Simon Cheong.
  2. An explanation on how these two pieces came into being and the world premiere of both variations.
  3. The publication of these two pieces by the Classical Guitar Society (WP/Sel) Malaysia.
  4. The premiere recording.

Variations on a Malaysian Song, op. 125, ‘ Getaran Jiwa’  (1996) by John W. Duarte (1919-2004)

Theme, song

Var. 1, Cheerfully

Var. 2, Doloroso

Var. 3, Animato

Var. 4, Adagio Sereno

Finale, Tempo di Valse

 

Variations on an Indonesian Song, op. 124, ‘Gubahanku’ (1996) by John W. Duarte (1919-2004)

Theme, Moderato amabile

Var. 1, Giocoso

Var. 2, Valse Sentimentale

Var. 3, Alla Marcia

Var. 4, Lento e Calmo

Finale, Moderato con moto

by Simon Cheong