Patah Tumbuh

Available for SA, SATB, and percussion
Duration: 03:50

Exclusively distributed by Oxford University Press.

Patah Tumbuh (Broken – Renewed) is a fiery composition for mixed choir, 2-part treble choir, and percussion. It is inspired by two proverbs from the Malay community that focuses on resilience and renewal (text and translation below), allowing this to be a larger celebration of similar traditions shared by many ethnic communities who impart life teachings through poetic proverbs.

This work features word and vocal play merged with folkloric elements – quartal harmonies, dance-like rhythms, and shifting tonality – that are spun through a musically-contemporary lens.  It also features vocables (dong, nong, ning, tsak, ting), based on the existing vocal representations of the stylings and tone of traditional gamelan instruments used in the Wayang Kulit Kelantan shadow puppet theatre practice in Malaysia.

I am grateful to the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and Jean-Sébastien Vallée (Artistic Director) for commissioning me to create this work as their Composer-In-Residence for the 2023-2024 Season. It is an honour to be a part of this meaningful collaboration.

– Tracy Wong, August 2023.

Learning Resources

Contact Tracy for rehearsal tracks.