Post by uptowndragon on Aug 4, 2020 16:13:42 GMT 7
Raggy Singh's The Year The Music Died (4/08/2020)
A heartfelt plea by Raggy Singh, Penang's most inspirational musician, on behalf of all musicians affected by the pandemic and resultant restrictions.
- The Editor
THE YEAR THE MUSIC DIED
Feature Article: Raghbir "Raggy" Singh
Photo: Courtesy of Raghbir "Raggy" Singh
The year is not even into its 3rd quarter, and already the music scene in Malaysia is all but decimated. "Live" music performances have been curtailed due to the social/physical-distancing requirements of the battle against the Coronavirus epidemic, and musicians have found themselves unable to earn any income. In the first months of the restrictions, everyone had to tighten their belts and only spend on bare essentials like food, but as the months of restrictions drag on, most musicians find themselves unable to even meet the costs of these basic needs, and most are lagging behind in payments of house rent, car loans and credit card repayments...and as the restrictions go on most musicians are trying to find alternate sources of income like selling home-cooked food, doing deliveries...whatever can generate some desperately-needed money. Many are having to sell off their precious instruments at low prices, such are the demands of hungry children to feed.
But even as the general restrictions across the country have begun to be eased as the coronavirus epidemic comes under control, the avenues for musicians to work are still being severely restricted. As restaurants, cafes and shopping malls begin to reopen, musicians are still largely barred from performing. Some authority seems to have come up with permission for "indoor busking", the definition of which is hidden in bureaucratic meaninglessness, effectively making musicians a kind of freak sideshow beggars.
The relevant question is this: Just how dangerous are live music performances in relation to the coronavirus epidemic?
If a restaurant can operate with cooks and cashiers and waiters, just what is it that musicians do which is so dangerous that they cannot be allowed to work? Some simple and logical rules can be implemented for safety for all concerned, which makes live music performances fully compliant with epidemiological requirements.
1. Have performers in a stage/performance area a suitable distance away from the customers' tables. Clear floor marking or taped-off areas can mark this restricted zone.
2. All equipment in the performance area to be sanitized before and after each performance. Simple disinfectant wipes will work.
3. Under no circumstances are customers allowed to enter the performance area.
Just these 3 simple guidelines would make the musicians no more dangerous than the average cafe employee, yet for some reason, musicians are being prevented from their rightful trade. Why?
What is it that a musician does that is so dangerous to society? How do musicians spread the coronavirus?
The restrictions being imposed upon musicians are not just wrong, they are also illogical unless the fact is that there is somehow some inherent underlying prejudice against musicians that bring about this "Prevent Musicians From Working" policy.
The authorities hate us. They think we represent drunkenness and debauchery and all manner of social sins. Our music makes people want to dance, it makes people feel good and when people feel good they will get drunk and fornicate in public, right in the very cafes and bars they are dining in. Ridiculous assumption? You'll be surprised how many of those occupying positions in authority actually believe this nonsense.
So where does music fit into society? Where do musicians get inspiration from their craft? Is there a need for music in society?
From ancient times, music has been a form of expression that the living creatures use. Birds sing, whales sing and humans not only sing but also create instruments that sound tuneful....humans have taken musical expression to ever-increasing heights.
Music has become the fabric that helps define us as a higher life-form. Many religions use music in various forms, from melodic chanting and recital of holy verses to actual singing of sacred hymns. Music helps connect mankind with their Creator.
Music is also therapeutic for many illnesses. Autistic children, depressed adults, brain-traumatized patients....these and more benefit from the calming effect of music.
Music helps to soothe stressful situations. Pilots flying aeroplanes turn on music to calm passengers when landing, some surgeons will have music playing during prolonged surgeries to calm the operating team's nerves.
We sing a Happy Birthday song when a friend is celebrating a birthday. A mother will hum a tune to calm a crying child. We sing "Rasa Sayang" in Malaysia at gatherings and we teach this song to foreigners to show them our musical culture.
We sing our National Anthem. Everybody knows the lyrics. We have marching bands that play all sorts of instruments as they proudly parade before King and VIPs. We have patriotic songs that are played on radio and TV during troubled times and when we want to foster togetherness and patriotism.
We have traditional musical instruments that express our culture and heritage. From the kompangs to the gamelan to various types of flutes to the sitar and gamelan to the Er Hu, the range of these instruments is endless and each honours some part of our societies heritage.
To play any of these instruments is not something just anyone can do. You need a special gift to be able to sing or play instruments and to be able to play and sing well you need to be uniquely gifted. Even then, it takes years of dedicated practice to harness these gifts and to become a master musician. A very very tiny fraction of the population can become musicians who bear the torch of this precious gift.
This gift cannot be taken for granted. It needs to be nurtured and nourished. Musicians and their craft need the support of society. In olden times, Kings and the rich Nobility would sponsor all sorts of artisans and craftsmen and musicians, and civilizations thrived in showcasing their glory in the form of magnificent architecture and art forms.
But nowadays in Malaysia, it seems like musicians are somehow step-children that nobody wants. Keep them away. Keep them unemployed. Make them give up and look for other work. Seriously, do we need more nasi lemak and char koay teow sellers and Grab Food dispatchers?
Why are we letting so many skilled musicians come to ruin? Do we really need to destroy our musical heritage?
There are various ways to ensure that musicians can continue to ply their trade even during these troubled epidemic times. The restrictions are not being caused by the Covid-19 virus, but by people in authority who have no sense of culture.
Don't let the music die. You may kill something deeper than you realize. Your society's very soul.
[Please note that the content herein is the sincere opinion of its author but may not necessarily reflect the opinion of this publication]
A heartfelt plea by Raggy Singh, Penang's most inspirational musician, on behalf of all musicians affected by the pandemic and resultant restrictions.
- The Editor
THE YEAR THE MUSIC DIED
Feature Article: Raghbir "Raggy" Singh
Photo: Courtesy of Raghbir "Raggy" Singh
The year is not even into its 3rd quarter, and already the music scene in Malaysia is all but decimated. "Live" music performances have been curtailed due to the social/physical-distancing requirements of the battle against the Coronavirus epidemic, and musicians have found themselves unable to earn any income. In the first months of the restrictions, everyone had to tighten their belts and only spend on bare essentials like food, but as the months of restrictions drag on, most musicians find themselves unable to even meet the costs of these basic needs, and most are lagging behind in payments of house rent, car loans and credit card repayments...and as the restrictions go on most musicians are trying to find alternate sources of income like selling home-cooked food, doing deliveries...whatever can generate some desperately-needed money. Many are having to sell off their precious instruments at low prices, such are the demands of hungry children to feed.
But even as the general restrictions across the country have begun to be eased as the coronavirus epidemic comes under control, the avenues for musicians to work are still being severely restricted. As restaurants, cafes and shopping malls begin to reopen, musicians are still largely barred from performing. Some authority seems to have come up with permission for "indoor busking", the definition of which is hidden in bureaucratic meaninglessness, effectively making musicians a kind of freak sideshow beggars.
The relevant question is this: Just how dangerous are live music performances in relation to the coronavirus epidemic?
If a restaurant can operate with cooks and cashiers and waiters, just what is it that musicians do which is so dangerous that they cannot be allowed to work? Some simple and logical rules can be implemented for safety for all concerned, which makes live music performances fully compliant with epidemiological requirements.
1. Have performers in a stage/performance area a suitable distance away from the customers' tables. Clear floor marking or taped-off areas can mark this restricted zone.
2. All equipment in the performance area to be sanitized before and after each performance. Simple disinfectant wipes will work.
3. Under no circumstances are customers allowed to enter the performance area.
Just these 3 simple guidelines would make the musicians no more dangerous than the average cafe employee, yet for some reason, musicians are being prevented from their rightful trade. Why?
What is it that a musician does that is so dangerous to society? How do musicians spread the coronavirus?
The restrictions being imposed upon musicians are not just wrong, they are also illogical unless the fact is that there is somehow some inherent underlying prejudice against musicians that bring about this "Prevent Musicians From Working" policy.
The authorities hate us. They think we represent drunkenness and debauchery and all manner of social sins. Our music makes people want to dance, it makes people feel good and when people feel good they will get drunk and fornicate in public, right in the very cafes and bars they are dining in. Ridiculous assumption? You'll be surprised how many of those occupying positions in authority actually believe this nonsense.
So where does music fit into society? Where do musicians get inspiration from their craft? Is there a need for music in society?
From ancient times, music has been a form of expression that the living creatures use. Birds sing, whales sing and humans not only sing but also create instruments that sound tuneful....humans have taken musical expression to ever-increasing heights.
Music has become the fabric that helps define us as a higher life-form. Many religions use music in various forms, from melodic chanting and recital of holy verses to actual singing of sacred hymns. Music helps connect mankind with their Creator.
Music is also therapeutic for many illnesses. Autistic children, depressed adults, brain-traumatized patients....these and more benefit from the calming effect of music.
Music helps to soothe stressful situations. Pilots flying aeroplanes turn on music to calm passengers when landing, some surgeons will have music playing during prolonged surgeries to calm the operating team's nerves.
We sing a Happy Birthday song when a friend is celebrating a birthday. A mother will hum a tune to calm a crying child. We sing "Rasa Sayang" in Malaysia at gatherings and we teach this song to foreigners to show them our musical culture.
We sing our National Anthem. Everybody knows the lyrics. We have marching bands that play all sorts of instruments as they proudly parade before King and VIPs. We have patriotic songs that are played on radio and TV during troubled times and when we want to foster togetherness and patriotism.
We have traditional musical instruments that express our culture and heritage. From the kompangs to the gamelan to various types of flutes to the sitar and gamelan to the Er Hu, the range of these instruments is endless and each honours some part of our societies heritage.
To play any of these instruments is not something just anyone can do. You need a special gift to be able to sing or play instruments and to be able to play and sing well you need to be uniquely gifted. Even then, it takes years of dedicated practice to harness these gifts and to become a master musician. A very very tiny fraction of the population can become musicians who bear the torch of this precious gift.
This gift cannot be taken for granted. It needs to be nurtured and nourished. Musicians and their craft need the support of society. In olden times, Kings and the rich Nobility would sponsor all sorts of artisans and craftsmen and musicians, and civilizations thrived in showcasing their glory in the form of magnificent architecture and art forms.
But nowadays in Malaysia, it seems like musicians are somehow step-children that nobody wants. Keep them away. Keep them unemployed. Make them give up and look for other work. Seriously, do we need more nasi lemak and char koay teow sellers and Grab Food dispatchers?
Why are we letting so many skilled musicians come to ruin? Do we really need to destroy our musical heritage?
There are various ways to ensure that musicians can continue to ply their trade even during these troubled epidemic times. The restrictions are not being caused by the Covid-19 virus, but by people in authority who have no sense of culture.
Don't let the music die. You may kill something deeper than you realize. Your society's very soul.
[Please note that the content herein is the sincere opinion of its author but may not necessarily reflect the opinion of this publication]
