Musical Innovation: The Fusion of Chord Melody Style and Malay Traditional Music Lagu Melayu Asli

Abstract

The study of traditional music, such as Malay Asli songs, has garnered significant attention from musicians and music scholars. However, prior research on Malay Asli songs has been limited in scope, with little exploration of contemporary approaches to their composition. This article aims to contribute to the discourse by exploring the hybridisation of Malay Asli songs with chord melody style composition for jazz guitar, while retaining the essential elements of the original music. The article begins by providing an overview of the standard composition of Malay Asli songs. We then demonstrate our approach by utilising the lead sheet format of two popular Malay Asli repertoire, Damak and Patah Hati. Finally, we discuss how the concept of jazz guitar reharmonisation was employed to create a new variation of Malay Asli song composition. This study offers insights for music educators and practitioners interested in exploring new approaches to traditional music composition.