KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah singers Marsha Milan Londoh and Velvet Lawrence Aduk, who sang the hit single ‘Sumandak Sabah’, and renowned singer and sape player from Sarawak Alena Murang are set to rock the Petronas Philharmonic Hall (DFP) during the Sounds of Borneo concert on Sept 7.
The concert with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO), held in conjunction with Malaysia Day, celebrates Bornean music while serving as a platform to unite Malaysians through enthralling music.
MPO Business and Strategic Relations Management Department head Effendy Khalid said the concert is a testament to MPO's commitment to providing a platform for orchestral music performances while showcasing the talents of local artistes and supporting efforts to preserve cultural arts.
He believes that the three female singers will deliver impressive and meaningful performances at the concert led by Luqman Aziz, an associate conductor, music director and composer for the RTM Orchestra.
"We have no issues with the classical orchestral arrangements and melodies as that is our expertise, but to bring forth such an assimilation, we need to be supported by a solid performance.
"We believe it will be a great concert as it has been our dream to provide such a platform for all types of music from Malaysia," he said at a press conference recently.
The singers, meanwhile, described the opportunity to perform on such a prestigious stage as a significant recognition of their hard work and dedication in elevating Bornean music.
Marsha, 39, said she sees her participation in the concert as the golden opportunity she had always dreamed of, given that Bornean music is so close to her heart.
"It’s like a dream come true... and when given this opportunity, we are naturally overjoyed. All this time, the traditional music of Sabah and Sarawak has been considered a ‘minority’ and very rarely gets the chance to be performed on a big stage," she said.
Velvet, 37, said she is grateful to be a part of the Sounds of Borneo concert, adding her sacrifices in promoting and championing traditional music have paid off.
"The struggles we’ve gone through, sacrificing so much to continue the legacy of traditional music, have been rewarded with this concert. I hope this won’t be the last and that more opportunities will arise for us to bring local music to a higher level," she said.
Alena, 35, said: “This concert holds great significance for the sape community because even in Sarawak, many people have yet to see a sape and have only perhaps heard it through songs.
"So, my mission is to bring it into the mainstream music scene, but I don’t want to change the music at all. I’m a traditionalist and I don’t want to play it in a contemporary form. For me, its authenticity should be preserved 100 percent," she said.
Among the songs that will be performed at the concert are ‘Gitu’an’, ‘Pemung Jae’, ‘Sumandak Sabah’, ‘Insan Tadau’, ‘Panaon’, ‘Aramaitii’ and ‘Bejugit Betanda Menari’, as well as folk songs like ‘Meno’, ‘Midang Midang’, ‘Jambatan Tamparuli’, ‘Put Burui’, ‘Datun Julud’ and ‘Puteri Santubong’.
