Friday, August 30, 2013

NSO Wind Ensemble in Bukit Mertajam and Penang

Date, Time, Venue: 24 Aug 2013, 5-6pm Workshop + 8-9pm Concert at 
Jit Sin Independent High
School, Bukit Mertajam, Penang. 

Date, Time, Venue: 25 Aug 2013, 930-1030 am Concert + 11-12noon Workshop at Penang Chinese Girls Primary School 





MALAYSIA NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WIND ENSEMBLE

The MNSO Wind ensemble has it's begining as an Wind Octet back in 1986 formed by the wind players of the then OSM (Orkestra Simfoni Muda) a training orchestra precursor to the present NSO.
Today the ensemble takes a freer form, from trios, quartets to large ensembles even sometimes incorporating strings and other instruments.
When The NSO was formally launched in 1993, the ensemble took an active role in introducing the orchestra to the public by performing regularly in informal foyer concerts before the main perfomance and was also featured prominently in a few of the NSO's main concerts. It was also involve in some of the NSO's outreach programmes.
The ensemble has also participated in masterclasses with the Albion Ensemble and the Schubert Ensemble.


Program for "A little Musical Offering"
Joseph Haydn, arr. Perry - Divertimento No.1 in B flat major, Hob.II:46
Nino Rota - Piccola Offerta Musicale
Luciano Berio - Opus Number Zoo
Jacques Ibert - Trois Pieces Breves
Joe Hisaishi, arr. Maruyama - Studio Ghibli Medley



Musicians
Flute - Foo Chie Haur
Oboe  - Howard Ng Su Chee
Clarinet - Lawrence Fong Yee Seong
Bassoon - Midori Suzuki
French Horn - Heng Zhi Wen



A Brief Program Notes

Joseph Haydn, arr. Harold Perry - Divertimento No.1 in B flat major, Hob.II:46
1.     Allegro con spirito
2.     Andante quasi Allegretto
3.     Menuetto
4.     Rondo: Allegretto

The “Divertimento in B flat major, Hob II-46” is a part of “6 Feld Partiten” (compositions designed for outdoor performances in the divertimento style) by Joseph Haydn, which are said to have been composed around 1780. The original work was written for 2 Oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 horns and 2 bassoons in the popular court entertainment style of the late 18th century, i.e. harmoniemusik. The second movement of the piece, with the title “Chorale St. Antoni” is written with a theme borrowed from a traditional hymn. The third and fourth movement are the variations of the theme.



Nino Rota - Petite Offrande Musicale
Throughout his life Nino Rota composed not only for the silver screen but also orchestral, chamber and choral music. The “Petite Offrande Musicale (Little Musical Offering) was written under the influence of Alfredo Casella, the dedicatee of this work as well as teacher of the young Rota. French elements could be traced through the title and the structure of the piece. It is a beautiful example of Nino Rota’s vast and varied output throughout his incredible career.



Luciana Berio – Opus Number Zoo
In 1951, having recently graduated from the conservatory in Milan, Luciano Berio wrote “Opus Number Zoo” for wind quintet. He combined music and theater in this piece with the use of poems by Rhoda Levine as text. Despite subtitled a “children’s play”, the poems hint of darkness. Berio depicted animal characters often associated with stories for children such as foxes, chicken, mice, and cats; but behind the obvious it illustrates violence, the horror of war, and death. The piece is made out of movements titled “Barn Dance”, “The Fawn”, “The Grey Mouse” and “Tom Cats”.



Jacques Ibert - Trois pièces brèves
The “Trois pièces brèves” (Three Short Pieces), is one of Jacques Ibert’s most frequently performed works. Written in 1930,  it was clearly meant for the purpose of pure entertainment. Like many of his other compositions, it is light hearted, witty, and iconic of his composition style; a style most often associated with the domination of elegant virtuosity.


Joe Hisaishi, arr.  Kazunori Maruyama - Studio Ghibli Medley
The “Studio Ghibli Medley”, arranged for wind quintet in four separate movements will consist of music from the following films: “Laputa: Castle In The Sky”, “Princess Mononoke”, “Kiki's Delivery Service” and “Howl's Moving Castle”.  We hope this lighthearted end to the program will leave you with much joy.




MUSICIAN’S BIOGRAPHY

Flute - Foo Chie Haur
Foo Chie Haur is currently principal flutist with National Symphony Orchestra. He has studied with Trevor Wye, Hristo Dobrinov and Yukako Yamamoto. His musical endeavors has brought him to WASBE International Youth Wind Orchestra in Singapore, Canton International Summer Music Academy in Guangzhou, as well as tours to major Asian cities with Asian Youth Orchestra. He has also performed with Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and Macau Orchestra. He also involved with Dama Orchestra where he had the chance to perform in various local theatre productions. Besides holding Fellowship (FTCL) Recital Diploma of Trinity Guildhall, Chie Haur also holds a Bachelor Degree in Science.


Oboe - Howard Ng Su Chee
A native of Kota Kinabalu and a graduate of Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music Singapore, Howard Ng Su Chee is currently principal oboist of NSO. As an orchestral musician Howard has performed with Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Asian Youth Orchestra in 2010 and 2012, Singapore Festival Youth Orchestra, Orchestra of Music Makers Singapore and Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, where he was also a pioneering member. In the past Howard has appeared as soloist with Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.


Clarinet - LAWRENCE Fong Yee Seong
Lawrence Fong Yee Seong is currently co-principal clarinetist of NSO. Before his appointment with NSO in 1997, he was principal clarinetist of KL City Hall Orchestra from 1994-1997, and performed Mozart’s clarinet concerto and Weber’s clarinet concertino whilst there. Lawrence has also performed with ensembles such as P.J. Youth Symphonic Band (1993 and 1997 International Musicale in Shizuoka, Japan), Commonwealth Youth Orchestra, and Orchestra Internazionale D’Italia among others. With NSO, he has performed in tours of Singapore, Jakarta, Tokyo and Osaka. Since 2009, Lawrence is also a regular member of High Winds Ensemble.


French Horn - Heng Zhi Wen
Born in Kuala Lumpur, Heng Zhi Wen started playing French horn at the age of 14. Upon graduation from the University College Sedaya International (UCSI), Zhi Wen was appointed as Assistant Principal French horn player of NSO. She is also founding a member of Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. As a student, she took lessons and masterclasses under a few teachers; they are Lin Jiang, James Schumacker, Vyacheslav Kim, Ludwig Rast, Simon de Souza, Angela Barnes, Hervé Joulain, Zlost Peter, Peter Davida and Sabina Pade.


Bassoon - Midori Suzuki
Midori Suzuki is currently bassoonist with NSO. She was long acquainted with this orchestra as a guest bassoonist since 1999 before becoming a full time musician of the orchestra in 2009. She is also actively involved in teaching and performing around Kuala Lumpur city. Before Midori settled down in Malaysia, she was selected to join Asian Youth Orchestra, invited by Pusan Symphony Orchestra to Korea, and performed regularly in Japan as soloist and chamber musician. She won 3rd prize in Chamber Music Competition organized by JILA (International Art Association) in Tokyo, Japan. Midori studied bassoon with Myashita Masahiko, Minakawa Shigeko, and Okazaki Kouji who were principal bassoonists from major orchestras of Japan.




Toccata Studio
19b, Jalan SS2/55, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

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