As circumstances warrant it I was not able to attend Irfan's performance recently at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas on 17 and 18 August 2013 but my two sisters Tok Teh and Tok Su were there to lend and give our utmost family moral support to our grandnephew but it's ok Irfan still remembers his Tok Ngah and autographed the musical programme for me :)
As reviewed in NST on 24 August 2013...
Tengku Irfan easily wowed the audience with his expressive musicality.
Read more: Irfan’s flights of fantasy - Live - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/life-times/live/irfan-s-flights-of-fantasy-1.342839#ixzz2ctsUkfbm
Another article in NST which was published before the concert...
Another article in NST which was published before the concert...
Piano prodigy Tengku Ahmad Irfan will debut his
original work at a Gala MPO concert, writes Aref Omar
HE’S only 15
but Tengku Ahmad Irfan can melodically negotiate his way around the 88 keys of
the piano like an old pro.
The
boy wonder started playing at 7 and debuted with Claus Peter Flor and the
Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra in 2009. Since then he has collaborated with
the likes of conductors Neeme Jarvi (Estonia), Darius Mikulski and the
Thailand
Philharmonic Orchestra (Bangkok) and pianist Yoheved Kaplinsky at the Aspen
Music Festival in 2012.
Tengku Irfan
will perform at the Malaysia In Symphony: 15th Anniversary Concert at Dewan
Filharmonik Petronas, in conjunction with MPO’s 2013/2014 season. The
two-night concert begins with a special Gala Concert tonight for
subscribers and guests, and a public performance tomorrow at 3pm (see accompanying
details).
The MPO, led
by music director Claus Peter Flor, will perform a repertoire of Prokofiev’s
Piano Concerto No. 2, Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier Waltzes and a brand new
composition by Tengku Irfan, titled Sahibul Hikayat Fantasy Overture.
The latter’s
currently doing a double major in piano and composition as well as studying
conducting at Juilliard Pre-College in New York. He is a Teaching Artist Intern
for the New York Philharmonic Composer’s Bridge Program and is a High Honors
high school student at the Professional Children’s School.
He recently
won first prize in the Prokofiev Piano Concerto No.2 Competition at the Aspen
Music Festival 2013. He won both the ASCAP Morton Gould Award and Charlotte
Bergen Award in 2012 for his composition String Quartet No.1.
His
composition was recently performed by the New York Philharmonic.
In an email
interview, Tengku Irfan talks about his experience overseas and his passion for
music.
What’s your typical day like in New York?
During weekdays, high school takes up all mornings and afternoons, and homework occupies my nights. Two to three hours during late afternoons will be for individual lessons or self-work for piano, composition and conducting.
What’s your typical day like in New York?
During weekdays, high school takes up all mornings and afternoons, and homework occupies my nights. Two to three hours during late afternoons will be for individual lessons or self-work for piano, composition and conducting.
Events such
as performances, academic tests and research projects may alter the schedule.
Saturdays
are full days at Juilliard Pre-College where I have group lessons on ear
training, theory, counterpoint, studio classes for both majors, etc., and also
orchestra rehearsal and chamber coaching. Sundays are for catching up with
whatever that needs to be attended to!
What do you like about New York?
Most, if not all, of the world’s best performers and orchestras come here to perform, so I get to stay in one place and yet, I’m able to attend so many great performances.
What are some of your favourite classical music pieces?
This is difficult to answer because I have so many favourite pieces by composers that I love, such as Beethoven, Mahler, Prokofiev, Corigliano and many more. Recently, I have been listening to Shostakovich’s Symphony No.4. I really love its complex structure. There are so many things to unravel as we analyse it.
What’s the easiest and the hardest pieces you’ve performed so far?
Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No.2 is, without a doubt, one of the most difficult pieces for me to perform. It not only imposes extreme technical demands on the pianist but also requires musical depth. The piece is also demanding on the orchestra. This makes it even more challenging for both the soloist and orchestra to tie-up together nicely.
What do you like about New York?
Most, if not all, of the world’s best performers and orchestras come here to perform, so I get to stay in one place and yet, I’m able to attend so many great performances.
What are some of your favourite classical music pieces?
This is difficult to answer because I have so many favourite pieces by composers that I love, such as Beethoven, Mahler, Prokofiev, Corigliano and many more. Recently, I have been listening to Shostakovich’s Symphony No.4. I really love its complex structure. There are so many things to unravel as we analyse it.
What’s the easiest and the hardest pieces you’ve performed so far?
Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No.2 is, without a doubt, one of the most difficult pieces for me to perform. It not only imposes extreme technical demands on the pianist but also requires musical depth. The piece is also demanding on the orchestra. This makes it even more challenging for both the soloist and orchestra to tie-up together nicely.
Another
piece which is tricky in a different way is probably Catenaires by Elliot
Carter. It is a fast piece with a continuous chain of random notes with no
repeated motifs or pauses at all.
In terms of
easy pieces, I don’t believe that there is actually one. Even though a
piece may be technically simpler, the performer will always be challenged by
the need to deliver it musically.
What’s
Juilliard like?
I love it there! My teachers are awesome. They keep on raising the bar to constantly keep me on my toes and are always willing to give extra lessons whenever needed. They’re also always full of surprises. For instance in conducting, I may be given an unfamiliar quintet which I have to simultaneously sight read, transcribe for two-hands and sing another part on the spot.
I love it there! My teachers are awesome. They keep on raising the bar to constantly keep me on my toes and are always willing to give extra lessons whenever needed. They’re also always full of surprises. For instance in conducting, I may be given an unfamiliar quintet which I have to simultaneously sight read, transcribe for two-hands and sing another part on the spot.
I’m also
lucky to have a circle of wonderful friends from both the Pre-College and
College divisions. We constantly help each other, for instance by being an
accompanist when a colleague is entering a competition.
Tell us about your new composition.
Sahibul Hikayat Fantasy Overture is inspired by the elements of several different forms of traditional music. The listener is free to interpret the music from his or her personal perspective or even relate it to his or her own experiences.
What’s your creation process like?
When it comes to inspiration, there are good and bad days! I was about halfway done at one point when suddenly I changed my mind and had to start all over again, which left me only 2½ months to complete the piece.
Tell us about your new composition.
Sahibul Hikayat Fantasy Overture is inspired by the elements of several different forms of traditional music. The listener is free to interpret the music from his or her personal perspective or even relate it to his or her own experiences.
What’s your creation process like?
When it comes to inspiration, there are good and bad days! I was about halfway done at one point when suddenly I changed my mind and had to start all over again, which left me only 2½ months to complete the piece.
How many
compositions have you done so far?
I can’t say for sure but in the last two years, between 10 and 15 perhaps. These range from solo and chamber works to large orchestral pieces.
You like to improvise during performances. How did this come about?
I saw pianist Robert Levin continuing this tradition of improvising cadenzas. I thought that it was interesting and a fun approach and decided to do the same.
Why do you like the piano so much?
The piano somewhat represents the range of the orchestra, from the very low to the very high pitches. Since I love the orchestra, the ability of the piano to emulate it to a certain degree is probably why I like it.
Do you enjoy other genres of music?
I enjoy listening to jazz. Art Tatum and Chucho Valdes are amazing!
How do you spend your free time?
I love spending time with my siblings and friends. We may just hang out together or go to the movies, etc. I’m also very much into playing multiplayer computer and iPhone games with my friends, such as Asphalt 7.
I can’t say for sure but in the last two years, between 10 and 15 perhaps. These range from solo and chamber works to large orchestral pieces.
You like to improvise during performances. How did this come about?
I saw pianist Robert Levin continuing this tradition of improvising cadenzas. I thought that it was interesting and a fun approach and decided to do the same.
Why do you like the piano so much?
The piano somewhat represents the range of the orchestra, from the very low to the very high pitches. Since I love the orchestra, the ability of the piano to emulate it to a certain degree is probably why I like it.
Do you enjoy other genres of music?
I enjoy listening to jazz. Art Tatum and Chucho Valdes are amazing!
How do you spend your free time?
I love spending time with my siblings and friends. We may just hang out together or go to the movies, etc. I’m also very much into playing multiplayer computer and iPhone games with my friends, such as Asphalt 7.
*****************************************
My sister, Tok Teh's narration...
In August 2011 a couple of days before Ramadan, Irfan with his siblings n parents were back in
Kota Bharu to bid us farewell. Before flying off to New York.. I
remember his final goodbye, in Malay, of course he seldom uses English
to communicate with his grand aunts, understating his adage ' Irfan anak
Malaysia sejati', ..' Don't worry, l won't change except growing up a
few inches hahahaha.. That is Irfan who always laughs after stating
something.
Well growing a few inches indeed, two years later when we met him recently in August 2013, he has grown taller by more than a few inches, he is now a 5 ft 4 inch lanky teen at 15 yrs old. Exactly what he had promised, he hardly change.. he is still humble and lovable. In fact he practically hugged me and my sister, who he affectionally called Tok Teh and Tok Su, after his performance at the Gala MPO which premiered his composition Sahibul Hikayat Fantasi Overture and that evening too, he has also flawlessly tackled Prokofiev's piano concerto no 2, which has been described as a fiendish piece by most experienced pianists. There he was in front of us, his grand aunts, our cucu or grand nephew, just the same Irfan we know and love since he was a baby... Nothing pompous about him or no flaunting off accent with an American drawl . He still sounds very Malaysian and keep on speaking in Malay! Praise be to Allah, His Most Mighty who keeps Irfan just as humble and keeping low profile as ever before.
Irfan and family did return to Kota Bharu for a day trip on 23 August 2013, stealing a few hours from their hectic schedule just to be with his grand aunts, grand uncles and cousins, l recollected his father's words when we talked on the phone just as they arrived from New York on Raya day this year, "we could not make it last year (going back to Kota Bharu), and we feel our holidays back to Malaysia is not complete then but this year 2013, we make it a point in fact planned it from base, to fly back to KB..." How wonderful it feels to be remembered and appreciated by our niece (Irfan's mother) and nephew in law, and of course enjoying total devotion from Irfan and his sisters.
Yes we do have great time with them, we infact held a little family feast, inviting relatives to welcome home Irfan and family, which l think was a bit perturbing for Irfan's mother who l believe wanted to have quiet moments with her aunts. Anyway Irfan especially , maintain his usual humbleness, obliging requests to have his photo taken, he dutifully salam with everybody, stand by the door to bid our guests goodbye (which the Malays propounded as good manners to send off guests each time they left) and bears all questions without flinching a bit even some questions are a bit personal, yet I am proud to hear him answering in a matured way, far beyond his tender years, for e.g. one relative asked him, ' do you plan to come home for every Raya? His answer was, 'Alhamdulillah, the last two years we could spend our hari raya in Malaysia. 'A very uncommitted answer yet it sounds gracious without hurting the feelings of the person who had asked.
A little feast of local Nasi Dagang and Laksam to welcome the New York family back in KB and of course the delicious and colourful trifle courtesy of our niece, Norry.
Enjoying playing board games with Tok Su and his sister, Hana..
Irfan, Hana and especially Iman (who dotes on cats) getting to know Kaka
Tu dia Iman dah dapat riba Kaka dan Irdina riba Lulu ..
A snapshot with Hj Aka's family who's wife is our second cousin
With Tok Lah, Tok Teh, Tok Ngah and Tok Su and and Irfan's Mak (our niece)
One outstanding change in Irfan is his profound love for music deepens more and more, probably without a piano on hand, he is sometimes restless. I saw him relentless stalking round our living room, 'Irfan, do you need anything? Food or drinks? I asked.... ' No no nothing, please don't worry Tok Teh, its just music, ' he laughed... Oh my dearest cucu is thinking of his music, everytime, everywhere, most of the time. ... Piano will conjure up all the time in his mind!
Well growing a few inches indeed, two years later when we met him recently in August 2013, he has grown taller by more than a few inches, he is now a 5 ft 4 inch lanky teen at 15 yrs old. Exactly what he had promised, he hardly change.. he is still humble and lovable. In fact he practically hugged me and my sister, who he affectionally called Tok Teh and Tok Su, after his performance at the Gala MPO which premiered his composition Sahibul Hikayat Fantasi Overture and that evening too, he has also flawlessly tackled Prokofiev's piano concerto no 2, which has been described as a fiendish piece by most experienced pianists. There he was in front of us, his grand aunts, our cucu or grand nephew, just the same Irfan we know and love since he was a baby... Nothing pompous about him or no flaunting off accent with an American drawl . He still sounds very Malaysian and keep on speaking in Malay! Praise be to Allah, His Most Mighty who keeps Irfan just as humble and keeping low profile as ever before.
Irfan and family did return to Kota Bharu for a day trip on 23 August 2013, stealing a few hours from their hectic schedule just to be with his grand aunts, grand uncles and cousins, l recollected his father's words when we talked on the phone just as they arrived from New York on Raya day this year, "we could not make it last year (going back to Kota Bharu), and we feel our holidays back to Malaysia is not complete then but this year 2013, we make it a point in fact planned it from base, to fly back to KB..." How wonderful it feels to be remembered and appreciated by our niece (Irfan's mother) and nephew in law, and of course enjoying total devotion from Irfan and his sisters.
Yes we do have great time with them, we infact held a little family feast, inviting relatives to welcome home Irfan and family, which l think was a bit perturbing for Irfan's mother who l believe wanted to have quiet moments with her aunts. Anyway Irfan especially , maintain his usual humbleness, obliging requests to have his photo taken, he dutifully salam with everybody, stand by the door to bid our guests goodbye (which the Malays propounded as good manners to send off guests each time they left) and bears all questions without flinching a bit even some questions are a bit personal, yet I am proud to hear him answering in a matured way, far beyond his tender years, for e.g. one relative asked him, ' do you plan to come home for every Raya? His answer was, 'Alhamdulillah, the last two years we could spend our hari raya in Malaysia. 'A very uncommitted answer yet it sounds gracious without hurting the feelings of the person who had asked.
One outstanding change in Irfan is his profound love for music deepens more and more, probably without a piano on hand, he is sometimes restless. I saw him relentless stalking round our living room, 'Irfan, do you need anything? Food or drinks? I asked.... ' No no nothing, please don't worry Tok Teh, its just music, ' he laughed... Oh my dearest cucu is thinking of his music, everytime, everywhere, most of the time. ... Piano will conjure up all the time in his mind!
Took a peek at Irfan's blog and saw this picture of him conducting..hope your Baba don't mind Tok Ngah paste it on her blog hehe...
Last but not least...
The whole family with Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah (pic courtesy of MPO)
