Penang House of Music explained

Penang House of Music (PHoM)
Native Name:Rumah Muzik Pulau Pinang
Native Name Lang:msa
Map Dot Label:Penang House of Music
Location:ICT Digital Mall, Penang Road, George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Director:Paul Augustin

The Penang House of Music (PHoM) is an interactive music gallery in George Town, Malaysia. It consists of a gallery, a performing/exhibition space, and a resource centre that documents Malaysia's musical heritage with a focus on Penang's music and musicians. It is located on the 4th floor of the ICT Digital Mall, Penang and covers 650 square metres.[1] The gallery has earned a reputation as a kinaesthetic learning experience of music, culture, arts and social studies and its resource centre houses one of the largest collections of Malaysia's music, culture and performing arts. Here, various audio visual materials relating to Malaysia's music and history is documented, catalogued and digitised.[2]

Background

The Penang House of Music was established on 21 November 2016, as part of the Penang Musical Heritage Project in line with the Penang state government's goal of creating a city dedicated to heritage and creative arts. It received funding from Penang Water Supply Corporation and support from the Penang Chief Minister's Office.[3]

The information displayed in the gallery was derived from research materials compiled by The Capricorn Connection for exhibitions on Penang's popular music at the Penang State Museum in 2010 and 2013.[4] These exhibitions later evolved into the publication of a book titled For The Love Of It; Popular Music in Penang 1930s-1960s in 2015, co-authored by James Lochhead and Paul Augustin. The book documents Penang's popular music scene from the 1930s to the 1960s.[5] [6]

Gallery

PHoM's gallery highlights the traditional music of Penang's communities in the time period between the 1930s to the 1970s, and features exhibitions on various musicians who have shaped the music of Penang and Malaysia. It is divided into several sections that explain the development of various local genres of music such as bangsawan, boria, ronggeng, dondang sayang and the musicians of the period.

Interactive features include a motion sensor Potehi allowing puppets to be manipulated on screen, a listening chair and listening dome that plays a choice of popular music from the era, virtual and augmented reality, a broadcasting booth, a cinema room and local and traditional instruments.[7]

Black Box

A multi-purpose exhibition and performing space with a seating capacity of 100 to 150.

Events

Some of the notable events held at the black box include:

Resource Centre

PHoM's resource centre serves as a hub for musicians, scholars, academics, students, and anyone passionate about Penang's cultural heritage. It houses a collection of more than 30,000 mixed media items, including thousands of photographs, over 15,000 vinyl records, reel tapes, audio files featuring rare oral histories, books, magazines, journals, radios and music instruments.[13]

Projects

The resource centre has organised, produced and contributed to a number of research projects, exhibitions, documentaries and archives. Among the highlights are:

Articles & Publications

International Recognition

Funding and Legal Issues

The project (PHoM) was awarded a grant of RM 3 million over 3 years in 2016 through the Penang State government and the Penang Water Supply Corporation. [32]

From 2020 to 2022, the project received an annual grant of RM 500,000 from the Penang State government. However the grants were significantly delayed. The drop in visitors during the COVID-19 lockdown and delayed funds lead to payment disruptions and a legal dispute with the rental company over outstanding rent for the premise. [33]

On the 13th of February 2024, PHoM announced on its social media accounts of its imminent closure due to financial struggles. [34]

Notes and References

  1. News: 2017-04-12 . Penang House of Music Penang Free Sheet . en-US . Penang Free Sheet What's on in Penang. A curated list of events in Penang this week, this month and regular events. Theatre, music, exhibitions, workshops, art, tours & more ... . 2023-11-03.
  2. Web site: Penang House of Music: Going beyond its boundaries | Buletin Mutiara. May 28, 2023. www.buletinmutiara.com/.
  3. Web site: Yong . Soo Heong . 2022-03-09 . Boosting Penang's musical heritage as an attraction . 2023-11-08 . New Straits Times . en-US.
  4. Web site: Penang House Of Music: Shining Light On Penang's Jazz/Indigenous Music Heritage | All About Jazz. 2017-11-22.
  5. Web site: Penang House of Music: Going beyond its boundaries | Buletin Mutiara. May 28, 2023. www.buletinmutiara.com/.
  6. Web site: JUST FOR THE LOVE OF IT: POPULAR MUSIC IN PENANG,1930S–1960S | Adrian Cheah. 2015.
  7. Web site: Pikri . Ellia . 2017-04-05 . A Gallery's Mission To Bring M'sian Oldies To The 21st Century With VR Tech . 2023-11-03 . Vulcan Post . en-US.
  8. Web site: Tan . Jeremy . 2018-09-29 . Celebrating Asia’s first master storyteller . 2023-11-08 . The Star . en-US.
  9. Web site: Raja . Akanksha . 2018-08-31 . Ombak Potehi’s "Kisah Pulau Pinang: The Penang Story": A Slice of Malayan History . 2023-11-08 . Arts Equator . en-US.
  10. Web site: Nambiar . Predeep . 2023-04-10 . To help bandmate, Penang’s Born Free makes music once again . 2023-11-08 . Free Malaysia Today . en-US.
  11. Web site: Tan . Jeremy . 2018-03-10 . Sweet tribute to maternal love . 2023-11-08 . The Star . en-US.
  12. Web site: H. . 2018-07-06 . Drawing attention . 2023-12-21 . The Sun . en-US.
  13. Web site: SydneyEnterprise & The Penang House of Music - Access to Musical Heritage | Lucidea. 2018-04-09. Lucidea.
  14. Web site: An inspirational symposium on the echoes, shadows and footprints of music and performing arts | Bulletin Mutiara. 2022-07-22.
  15. Web site: Hingga Akhir Nanti – A Documentary by Nor Hazlin Nor Salam | Sunway University. 2021-04-04.
  16. Web site: Jimmy Boyle: The Man and His Music | Art Beats. 2023-11-08.
  17. Web site: NH-V . Sarah . 2020-11-08 . Ilham Gallery presents 'Bayangnya itu Timbul Tenggelam' . 2023-11-08 . The Vibes . en-US.
  18. Web site: From the Penang House of Music 'Visual Archives' (1950's-70's) | Penang Players. 2023-11-08.
  19. News: Augustin . Paul . Penang – Motherland of Musicians . 21 Nov 2023 . 02.19 . Penang Institute . February 2019.
  20. News: Augustin . Paul . A Very Brief Note on Entertainment Magazines in Malaysia . 21 Nov 2023 . 12.21 . Penang Institute . December 2021.
  21. Book: Johan . Adil . Santaella . Mayco . Made in Nusantara Studies in Popular Music . Routledge . 9780367428464 . 21 Nov 2023.
  22. News: Tham . William . "Listeners Calling": Radio Enters its Second Century in Malaysia . 21 Nov 2023 . 04.22 . Penang Institute . April 2022.
  23. News: Augustin . Paul . Radio Request Cards: A Blast from the Past . 04.22 . Penang Institute . April 2022.
  24. News: Augustin . Paul . Yeang . Kelvyn . Remembering Penang’s Municipal Band . 21 Nov 2023 . 04.22 . Penang Institute . April 2022.
  25. News: Augustin . Paul . Kathigesu . Duraagashini . Indian Music and Arts in Malaysia Have Many Roots . 21 Nov 2023 . 04.22 . Penang Institute . April 2022.
  26. News: Augustin . Paul . Echoes, Shadows & Footprints: A Symposium on the Upkeep of the Arts . 21 Nov 2023 . 03.23 . Penang Institute . March 2023.
  27. News: Augustin . Paul . Jimmy Boyle: The Man and His Music . 21 Nov 2023 . 03.23 . Penang Institute . March 2023.
  28. News: Ng . Jocelyn . Record Covers From the PHoM Vault: A Visual Journey . 21 Nov 2023 . 03.23 . Penang Institute . March 2023.
  29. Book: Lim . Daryl . Hamid . Roslan . T. Selva . Melizarani . Tham . William . The Second Link . Marshall Cavendish . 9789815066692 . 21 Nov 2023.
  30. Web site: Putting Penang on the world map for preservation of intangible music, arts and cultural heritage | Buletin Mutiara. 2023-11-08.
  31. Web site: Penang House of Music hosts conference on music sustainability | Citizen's Journal. 2024-02-22.
  32. Web site: Vengadesan . Martin . 2024-02-14 . Boosting Penang's musical heritage as an attraction . 2024-02-18 . New Straits Times . en-US.
  33. Web site: Nambiar . Predeep . 2024-02-14 . Penang House of Music received RM500,000 in annual grants, says exco . 2024-02-18 . Free Malaysia Today . en-US.
  34. Web site: Goh . Daryl . 2024-02-13 . Penang House of Music announces closure, leaving a void in Malaysian music heritage . 2024-02-18 . The Star . en-US.

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