The role of national and international choir competitions in the development of Malaysian choral compositions

This study discusses the nature and role of choir competitions in the development of Malaysian choral compositions and arrangements, including a discussion of national and international choral competitions in which Malaysian choirs have participated and their importance in Malaysian choral composition and choral music education. This study connects the development of competition culture more generally to increasing interest in choral music education and the increasing interest in new choral compositions. To that end, this study also considers Malaysian choral compositions specifically composed and/or arranged for choral competitions, identifying the styles and level of difficulty of the compositions, as well as the types of competitions that these compositions have won. The essay begins with a discussion of how Malaysia’s multiethnic history contributes to its developing musical culture, including the languages, cultural traditions, and religious beliefs of both historic colonizing nations and immigrants in Malaysia as well as of Malaysia’s many indigenous groups. Music in Malaysia has combined these languages, cultures, and beliefs into a new identity. Some Malaysian music, for example, includes elements of cultures and languages from Southeast Asia, while other music incorporates elements of indigenous musical traditions. Music educators, composers, and arrangers started writing and arranging choral music for national choir competitions as early as 1970s using the diverse languages, cultures, and music of Malaysia. Although choral music in Malaysia is still in its infancy, participation in competitions has increased the number of choral pieces being composed and Malaysian choirs are now regular participants on the international stage.