Latest news with #Confrontation
The Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Remembering sacrifices of forgotten war heroes
PETALING JAYA: While it is well known that Malaysia and Indonesia share a long and sometimes uneasy relationship, not many people are aware that lives were lost during the insurgency at the height of the Confrontation period in Malaysia's early post-independence years. The Malaysian Armed Forces Chinese Veterans Association (Macva) said this episode remains a relatively underexplored part of the country's history, often downplayed or omitted by mainstream accounts. The association added that had Indonesia's first president Sukarno remained in power, the Confrontation might have escalated further, posing serious challenges for a young Malaysia still establishing itself as a nation. 'Something happened in Indonesia, which was then under Sukarno's control. Then came a coup d'état. Sukarno was overthrown, and the entire regime collapsed. 'I believe God saved Malaysia. It was a critical time,' said Lt-Kol (Rtd) Dr Liew Ngoh Chin. 'When we talk about this part of history, you won't find it in academic books. 'In fact, many university historians aren't even aware of the incident,' said Liew, author of Memoirs – Malaya and Borneo at War (Memoirs 2)', published by Macva, during the book's launch at M Resort & Hotel Kuala Lumpur. The book is a sequel to the association's first publication, Memoirs of the Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans (Memoirs 1), released in 2020. Both books document the experiences of armed forces personnel during some of the country's most challenging times. Also present were Macva president Lt-Kol (Rtd) Wong Ah Jit, better known as A.J. Wong and his predecessor Kapt (Rtd) Datuk Lee Kwang Lock. Lee said he hopes the publications will raise awareness among Malaysians, especially the younger generation, about the sacrifices made by armed forces veterans in defending the nation's sovereignty. 'These two books were produced to create awareness. Especially for the younger generation. Imagine if your generation isn't aware, what about future generations? 'If we don't publicise it, the public won't know or understand what we've been through, especially now that things are so peaceful,' he said. Lee added that Macva also aims to highlight the contributions of non-Malay veterans, in a bid to encourage greater participation from non-Malays in the armed forces. 'I was in charge of the Recruit Training Centre in Johor from 2004 to 2007. Every intake, we would get 700 recruits. If I got one or two Chinese to join the Navy, it was a blessing. As for Indians, we had maybe three or four. Too few non-Malays are joining the armed forces. That's the sad part. 'There's nothing wrong with joining the army; we know, because we've lived that life. It's a good life. Not rich, but comfortable,' he added. Wong expressed hope that historians would now take note of the events left out of the nation's official narrative, and that these stories may one day be included in history textbooks. Sunday's Memoirs 2 book launch drew nearly a thousand attendees, including army veterans, their families and military enthusiasts.
Associated Press
15-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Max Lifchitz: Three Concerti - Thursday February 20th at 8 PM
The North/South Chamber Orchestra Performs Three Companion Works by Max Lifchitz, the ensemble's founder and director. 'Mr. Lifchitz, who is the enterprising director of North/South Consonance, is also an ambidextrous conductor of complex music. His own piece required him to beat intricate polyrhythms' — New York Times NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, February 15, 2025 / / -- The North/South Chamber Orchestra continues its 45th consecutive season on Thursday evening, February 20 when it performs a free admission event highlighting the works of Max Lifchitz, its founder and director. Soloists joining the ensemble for the evening include violinist Dylan Hamme, violist Colin Brookes, and cellist Sam DeCaprio. The in-person event will start at 8 PM and will conclude around 9:30 PM. The concert will be held at the acoustically superior DiMenna Center for Classical Music (450 West 37th St; New York, NY 10018). Registration is required for the few remaining seats available. Those wishing to attend should e-mail < [email protected] > to reserve a seat. Active as performer and composer, Max Lifchitz has appeared on concert stages throughout Europe and the Americas. As a composer, he has garnered grants and fellowships from, among others, the ASCAP, Ford, and Guggenheim Foundations, the University of Michigan Society of Fellows, the New York State Individual Artists Program, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Recordings of his works and performances are available on most streaming platforms. The event will highlight three companion pieces by Max Lifchitz that share similar structural and thematic qualities. They are all grounded in the Baroque stile concertato, a style characterized by the sharp contrast and opposition of different sonorities. As the music unfolds, the ensemble gradually challenges the soloist's dominance in the opening soundscape, ultimately leading to a balance between the two groups. Confrontación (Confrontation) for viola and orchestra was written in 2006 at the invitation of the Pan American Music and Art Research organization. It was premiered during the inaugural Latin American Culture Week in New York City. The piece features a musical discourse that juxtaposes melodic and rhythmic elements from various ethnic origins and historical periods. It includes quotes from 'Hanacpachap Cussicuinin"—a polyphonic composition published in Peru in the early 1600s, likely composed by a Quechua music student—as well as a Spanish Renaissance romance titled 'Vos me mataste' ('You have slain me') and the poignant North African melody 'Ajjamal Wanna' (Caravan Song). The soloist for the performance of this work will be Colin Brookes, a strong advocate for new music and unconventional collaborations. Trained at Juilliard and Yale, Brookes is a founding member of the prize-winning Ulysses Quartet. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, his work as a soloist, chamber musician, and teacher has led him to perform in cities across the United States, Europe, and the Americas. He currently plays on an Italian 19th-century viola and bows generously on loan from the Maestro Foundation. Intervencion (Intervention) for violin and orchestra was written in 1976 at the request of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Rising young violinist Dylan Hamme will be the soloist for the occasion. At age eleven, Dylan was featured on NBC's Today Show, performing with violinist Joshua Bell. Currently completing his undergraduate studies at The Juilliard School, Dylan has been a featured artist on many recital series such as the IVC Gold Winners' Concert in NYC, Young Artists Concert Series at First Presbyterian Church (Verona, NJ); Music on a Sunday Afternoon Young Artist Series (Teaneck Library, NJ), Montclair Music Club's Annual Young Artist Concert (NJ), and the Music for the Soul livestream concert series honoring NYC's Healthcare heroes and Women's History Month. He also performed at the Colorado College Summer Festival and in Europe at the AIMS and Schleswig-Holstein Festivals. Night Voices No. 13 for cello and orchestra was written in 1993 on commission from Mexican cellist Carlos Prieto. The single-movement work demands the utmost virtuosity and endurance from the soloist. Its postmodern musical language juxtaposes ghostlike harmonies derived from a Mexican folk tune with more straightforward diatonic passages and avant-garde techniques. These diverse elements wander into the musical texture as if appearing through a dream-like mist. Cellist Sam DeCaprio will perform the solo part. He was recently awarded a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The Juilliard School, along with a Norman Benzaquen Career Advancement Grant. As a soloist and chamber musician, he has performed worldwide and has been featured on radio programs including WQXR in New York, WFMT in Chicago, NPR, and WCNI. He has also recorded for Delos, ECM Records, MSR Classics, and Nonesuch. DeCaprio has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the New York City Ballet, and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra. He regularly collaborates with the Metropolis Ensemble and the New York Classical Players. Active since 1980, North/South Consonance, Inc. is devoted to promoting music by composers from the Americas and the world. Its activities are made possible, in part, with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, grants from the Music Performance Fund, the BMI Foundation, and the generosity of numerous individual donors. Visit us on social media: Facebook YouTube
