Abstract & Reality

About the Music

An experiment to compose a contemporary music style in the 21st century, this music is also a tribute to the

historical landscape that shapes Malaysia. Written in tribute to Scottish planter and entrepreneur William Kellie

Smith, and his wife Agnes who sailed to Malaya in 1890.

Smith was to build Kellie’s Castle (Perak) for his beloved family but unfortunately he died of pneumonia in 1926.

The building of the castle was halted and the un􀏔inished structure was abandoned and fell into disrepair. Kellie’s

Castle – littered with apparent haunting, and rumored desolate ghost sightings in the castle.

The music is an expressive scene capturing Agnes’s solemn sorrow and helplessness while returning to Scotland

with their two children, carrying the Kellie’s regretful, incomplete dreams.

This movement is a three piece set based on the Christian Creation Story inspired from the Holy Bible as

referenced from the Book of Genesis. The three pieces which are:

1. Desolate Dream 1926

2. In The Beginning

I. Fantasia (7 days)

God who created Heaven and the Earth took seven days to complete; features 7 intrinsic parts in

the character of this piece:

i. Light

ii. Water

iii. Earth,

iv. Moon and Sun

v. Man and Beast

vi. Seventh Day*

II. Son

This movement is representing the Son of God, Jesus Christ. The piece contains a moving melody that

is reminiscent of worship songs.

III. Trinity

The movement represents the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. As the name suggests, the piece contains

three voices.

*The first 6 days/parts are how God created the material world as we know it. The Seventh day is the

final day God completed His work and went to rest. In this part, themes of worshipping and celebrating

serve as the inspiration.

3. Impromptu I, II &III (Abstraction in art)

4. 心をうばわれて – 1/2 Spirit

Impromptu I – Color and Form

Impromptu II – Intention and Inspiration

Impromptu III – Reference and Reality

This is based on an artistic expression through color and forms. When a painter paints where the

canvas meets their brush, the expression and message that the artist is trying to demonstrate to the

audience is sculpted through abstraction of reality with balance of values and tones.

A blend of Japanese traditional music with contemporary music styles. As the title suggests, the

themes and moods of this dreamlike-trance surround the feelings of numbness and apathy. From loss

after tragic and arduous life events and leaving oneself breathless with feelings of directionless or

disillusionment.

5. Fantasia – Struggling

A fantasy regarding a knight’s hurdles and challenges while trying to 􀏔ind a way to return back

home to his kingdom after being captured by enemy forces. The energy of the music captures the

feeling of the knight who after stealing a horse and riding it to evade enemy capture whilst encountering

difficult terrain such as steep hills, rocky paths, fast-􀏔lowing rivers and thick forests. The knight

has to adapt to overcome these challenges and return to a place that would allow him safety and

triumph over his enemies.

This music is an allegory and metaphor about the composer’s challenges and struggles he faced in

his personal life and career as a musician. The solution to those problems is being adaptive with

multiple solutions and new ideas.

6. Tears for you

Regarding the human state of catharsis or release, tears can often accompany the release of

pent-up emotional energy whether happy or sad, any emotions in between or even no emotions at all;

such as a moment of deep relief after a long period of stress. The tears represent a physiological

release more than a speci􀏔ic emotional state. The piece is meant to give a voice to this speci􀏔ic experience

that is not often described in a single word.

7. オータム – Autumn (2025)

This tune is a contemporary interpretation of the season autumn. Autumn is often associated with

personal transitions and transformations, endings and beginnings. In Japanese tradition, it is a

profound season of gratitude, re􀏔lection, and aesthetic appreciation of impermanence.

A time that bridges happy and mournful feelings, it can be said that it is a melancholic brew that

materializes in autumn. To bring out the character of the piece, depending on the player’s mood, a

range of happy, sad, or mixed feelings will allow the piece to have an adaptable interpretation all

within the meaning of autumn.

8. Ethan’s toy

A story of the composer’s grandson and the 􀏔irst toy that was gifted to him. The toy in question is a

music toy in the shape of a” musical bus” which contains a selection of music. Of the variety of music

contained, in particular the famous nursery rhyme called ‘This old man’ serves as the inspiration for

this tune as the grandson was speci􀏔ically drawn to the rhyme when the composer was playing with

his grandson.

The unique features of this nursery rhyme-inspired tune are:

i)The A section begins in the key of A major where you will catch hints of the “This Old Man Nursery

Rhyme”. The music will then move and transpose to;

ii)G major where in the middle of this tune you will hear a lullaby-like motif that captures the calm

moment of the composer spending time with his grandson