TALK, PLAY AND THINK SERIES 2014
JANUARY – JUNE 2014
Talk, Play, Think (TPT) is a monthly series of lecture demonstrations on music and the performing arts by the academic staff from the faculty, visiting speakers, as well as professional practitioners. “Talk” refers to an academic lecture, while “play” involves performance demonstrations. The “think” element refers to the stimulation of new knowledge and the creative ways generated from the presentations. Talk, Play, Think (TPT) presentations bridge the gap between theory and practice, the academician and practitioner, and diversify ways in which knowledge may be acquired in an academic setting. The Faculty of Music and Performing Arts is proud to present performing arts academicians and scholar-practitioners who combine performance with research and scientific-based findings, in addition to professional practitioners’ experiences in performance, composition or choreography. TPT broadens our knowledge base through the sharing of undeniably rich sources of information by local, national and international researchers and practitioners alike.
January 2014
Music in Puppetry
by: Jose Navarro
22 January 2014, Choir Room, Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, 2.30p.m – 4.30p.m
This presentation explores the variety of ways in which music is produced for puppetry productions. Jose Navarro will discuss the unique compositional approaches towards creating original music scores suited to the specific genres, rhythms and styles of puppetry productions.
Jose Navarro, a Peruvian-British artist, graduated in Art from Peru’s National university of San Marcos in Lima and holds an M.A. in Theatre Practice-‘Puppetry and Object Theatre’, from the Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London, England. He also studied Mime under Juan Arcos.
February 2014
Beyond the Baton
by: Eugene Pook
26 February 2014, Choir Room, Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, 2.30p.m – 4.30p.m
In this masterclass/lecture, Eugene Pook will focus on basic techniques of instrumental conducting, such as non-verbal communication; baton techniques suitable for a variety of tempi, meters and styles; as well as conducting terminology. He will also share his experiences as a conductor, knowledge on leadership skills and the responsibilities of becoming a good conductor.
Eugene Pook is an Ipoh born conductor and clarinetist. He is currenly Music Director & Conductor of the Kinta Valley Symphonic Society, Kinta Valley Wind Orchestra, Perak Philharmonic Orchestra, Encounter Training Ensemble of the Malaysia Philharmonic Orchestra, Kuala Lumpur Pop Orchestra, and the Perak Society of Performing Arts (PSPA) International Ensemble.
March 2014
Experiences and Challenges in Performing the Role of Pakyong in Traditional Makyong Theatre
by: Rosnan bin Abdul Rahman
12 March 2014, Choir Room, Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, 2.30p.m – 4.30p.m
In this lecture-demonstration, Rosnan bin Abdul Rahman will share his experience as a Makyong practitioner and activist. His discussion will centre on the challenges that he has confronted in playing the role of Pakyong, the main character in Makyong Theatre.
Rosnan bin Abdul Rahman holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from University Sains Malaysia, Penang. He is currently the Assistant Director of Production at Istana Budaya.
April 2014
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Towards Making Music Therapy Malaysian
by: Made Mantle Hood
30 April 2014, Choir Room, Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, 2.30p.m – 4.30p.m
This lecture-demonstration explores the applicability of therapeutic modalities in music therapy to the Malaysian healthcare system. It aims to examine Malaysia’s potential for the establishment of music theraphy research and teaching programs through preliminary research that was conducted in the context of preparing an undergraduate course designed and administered at Universiti Putra Malaysia in 2013. I observe that an ‘ethno-music therapy’ is appropriate to consider towards establishing the discipline in Malaysia. Given the multi-cultural make-up of Kuala Lumpur, therapists may move beyond western music to include songs and melodies from various languanges and cultural backgrounds in order to achieve beneficial results during treatment.
Associate Professor Dr. Made Mantle Hood is currently lecturing in Ethnomusicology at University Putra Malaysia. He has also been a lecturer and research fellow in Ethnomusicology and Indonesian Studies at Monash University and Melbourne University.
May 2014
Dance your mele, play your hula: Interpreting Hawaiian music and dance
by: Clare Chan & Mayco Santaella
21 May 2014, Choir Room, Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, 2.30p.m – 4.30p.m
The lecture-demonstration presents the historical evolution of the music of Hawai’i. Through performance demonstrations, the presenters will illustrate the meanings in the song texts and hula (dance) movements of selected Hawaiian chants and songs. This presentation will also discuss the importance of Hawaiian music and hula in the assertion of a contemporary Hawaiian identity through examples from the Merrie Monarch competitions, the annual May Day (Lei Day) Festival as well as famous musical icons.
Dr. Clare Chan Suet Ching graduated with Ph.D. in Music from the University of Hawai’i. She studied Hawaiian music and hula under well-known kumu (teacher) hulas such as Vicky Takamine and Noenoelani Zutttermeister. Her interest in Hawaiian music has led her to undertake courses in Hawaiian history, music, as wll as engage in community efforts to restore and develop Hawaiian music in national schools.
Mayco Santaella was born in Cardoba, Argentina where he studied music theory and percussion at the Provincial Music Conservatory. He completed both his Bachelor and Master degrees at the University of Hawai’i in the field of Ethnomusicology as an East-West Center fellow. During his stay in Hawai’i he undertook courses on Hawaiian history, current issues in the islands and performed various types of Hawaiian music.
June 2014
Bird Song in Music (Avian Music)
by: Robert Burrell
25 June 2014, Mini Recital Room, Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, 2.30p.m – 4.30p.m
This presentation will focus on the use of birdcalls as a stimulus to music composition. Various examples of birdcalls will be presented along with their transcriptions into Western music notation. The presentation will show how each work of Robert Burrell’s functioned as research that led to the development of various musical works, which further evolved into sophisticated musical compositions.
Dr. Robert Burrell is a composer and senior lecturer at University Pendidikan Sultan Idris in Malaysia. He gained his Ph.D. and B.Mus from Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, and his Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Queenslands.
October 2014
Dance Workshop
by: Prof. Emeritus Dr. Marcia Lou Lloyd
1 October 2014, Mini Recital Room, Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, 2.30p.m – 4.30p.m
This TPT session will be one of play in the form of a dance workshop for participation and/or observation by those attending. The contents of the dance workshop will include learning: (a) the Brain Dance which incorporates eight fundamental movement patterns, (b) basic steps used in folk dance, and (c) selected folks dances from Denmark, England, Europe, and the United States. Various patterns in the Brain Dance and brain functions will be related to the folk dances. The last activity of the workshop will include dividing into small groups and creating new folk dances by the process of selecting a theme, choosing movements to express the theme, and sequencing the steps into a dance. Dance movements and steps can be selected from the Brain Dance, basic folk dance steps, patterns from dances learned in the workshop, and/or other movements that express the theme chosen by the group. Each group will present its dance to the workshop participants. A relaxation activity will conclude the workshop.
November 2014
“Story Box” Dalam Sinografi. Satu Konsep Menterjemah Visual Dari Naskah ke Ruang Persembahan
by: Hamzah Tahir
12 November 2014, Recital Hall, Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, 2.30p.m – 4.30p.m
Wacana ini akan membincangkan proses menterjemah visual dari naskah ke ruang persembahan khasnya produksi teater. Konsep “Story Box” merupakan penemuan baru yang digunakan untuk memudahkan sinografer dalam memvisualisasikan naskah. Berapa produksi teater akan diambil dalam memperjelaskan metodologi ini.
Wayang Kancil
by: Prof. Dr. Eddy Pursubaryanto
17 November 2014, Recital Hall, Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, 2.30p.m – 4.30p.m
Wayang Kancil is a new wayang in Indonesia. It is a shadow puppet where the stories are mainly taken from the Dongeng Kancil (The stories about Kancil). These stories are believed as a “world” where morals and values are taught for not only to children but also for adult. Since 1980, Wayang Kancil has been revived and popularized by Ledjar Subroto and his colleagues in the Yogyakarta Special Territory. Ledjar’s main mission in reviving Wayang Kancil was to use it as a device to teach children. The messages of the stories he has presented range from how to behave morally to how to treat the environment, especially the love for animals.