December Reflections (Composer’s Version)
Every compositional process is unique, and that’s why I love it! I try to create special moments that immerse me in the subject / theme for an experience that only the piece and I understand…
Every compositional process is unique, and that’s why I love it! I try to create special moments that immerse me in the subject / theme for an experience that only the piece and I understand. For pieces I’m crafting, there’s a lot of reading, a lot of podcast listening while knitting, a lot of reflective driving. I’m beginning to learn that cross-stitching and knitting promotes reflective thinking while encouraging stillness and patience.
As an only child, moments escaping to a world of pure imagination (heheh) was often times a required survival mechanism. So, taking time to immerse myself in creative research (however that reveals itself) is a practice in honouring and preserving Young Tracy - the quietly excited, curious, eager, and knowledge-hungry nerd who anthropomorphized almost everything around her.
(I have a tune about a lonely pierogi on the kitchen table.)
BUT a creative person requires a key to get to imaginationland! For me, inspiration comes from the commissioning choral organizations and their amazing artistic directors / conductors who have brilliant, thoughtful, and purposeful ideas in service of their choral communities. Thank you for trusting me with new music for your singers.
For this round of commissions that are on the brink of being “birthed”, I’m also super excited to collaborate with wonderful folks who have agreed to be poets/lyricists: Joey Gianan Vargas on a couple of pieces about fantastical beasts from our cultures, Bihzhu about our connection with nature, and Kitbielle Pasagui on a piece about a beautiful topic I can’t reveal at the moment 😂!
Stay tuned for updates! In the meantime, I wish you the kind of December that you need for your body, mind, heart, and soul.
Sincerely,
Tracy
Debut Album RIUH (Chaotic Joy), Pt. 1 & 2
I’m SO excited about this! Music tracks, concept, visuals, collaborators, and more!
Cover Art Design by Tintoy Chuo (Part 1) & Merissa Victor (Part 2)
About the album!
Meet The Album Collaborators
Rehearsal / Learning Tracks
Meet the amazingly talented collaborators of my music, whom I am immensely fortunate to call friends.
Yes, I have these learning resources of my music for your singers!
Available for purchase on Graphite Marketplace:
Bersatu Senada (Together With One Voice): SATB
JAM! (Jom-Ayuh-Mari!): SSA, SAB, SATB
Jauh/Dekat (Far/Near): SATB
Jong Jong Inai: 2-part treble, 3-part treble
Kira!: 3-part treble
Lenggang Kangkung: 2-part treble
RIUH (Chaotic Joy): SATB
Sehati (One Heart): SATB
SIngkap Siaga: SSA, SSAA, SAB, SATB
Available for purchase on Indianapolis Children’s Choir Publishing House:
Terang: 3-part treble
Available directly from me (email me info@tracywongmusic.com):
la li ley: SSAA
Take This Gift: SSA
Fly!: SA
Ikan Kekek: SA, SSAA, SAB, SATB
Rasa Nusantara: SSAA, SATB
Because of the cultural content of my music, I manage all aspects of the recording, production, and distribution of learning tracks. Here's why!
I take pride in doing my best to make sure that these recordings are representative of me and are “ethically-sourced”. This means that the audio recordings and learning tracks for my own music:
...Would be edited and/or recorded by choral musicians who speak the language(s) I set music to.
...Have musicians who have the lived experience of the culture which I do my best to honour through my music.
These musicians are paid for their time, experience, skill, and artistry.
Go HERE to find out more about them!
About the tracks:
You will receive part-dominant tracks as well as the full mixed tracks.
All the soprano and alto parts are sung by me, and the tenor and bass parts are sung by my wonderful artist friends who are familiar with the language and style.
Recordings would provide the pronunciation, style, and tone that is appropriate for the performance of the piece.
The tracks are professionally mixed so singers are ensured high quality audio recordings to support their learning!
To purchase, please email me: info@tracywongmusic.com
Thank you for considering my music for your choral programming!
Sincerely,
Tracy Wong
Tracy Wong Music: The Artists
Meet the amazingly talented collaborators of my music, whom I am immensely fortunate to call friends.
Meet the amazingly talented collaborators of my music, whom I am immensely fortunate to call friends.
If you have commissioned music from me, or purchased learning tracks for my new music, or have heard some new releases from me recently, do know that behind every audio file and poetic text you receive is a group of stellar artists-friends whom I trust and am very grateful for! These resources are representative of my music and are “ethically-sourced” - meaning, they are created by artists who are one or more of the following:
speak & sing the languages I set music to
have the lived experience of the culture which I do my best to honour through music
are familiar with the intended style of the music itself
These Artists are paid for their time, experience, skill, and artistry.
A note about the learning tracks for my new music, which you can purchase by contacting me HERE:
these are studio-quality part-dominant audio tracks, not MIDI
all Soprano and Alto tracks are sung by me
Tracy Wong Series on Graphite Publishing
I humbly invite you to explore the Tracy Wong Series on Graphite Publishing. This Series focuses on two goals: (1) Music With A Purpose, (2) Purchasing With A Purpose!
I humbly invite you to explore the Tracy Wong Series on Graphite Publishing. This Series focuses on two goals:
Music With A Purpose: Explore exciting choral pieces that celebrate various communities and unique collaborations. Additional resources are available directly from the composer / arranger (e.g. rehearsal tracks, workshops, etc.). New music by various composers/arrangers may highlight a cause / initiative of their choice.
Purchasing With A Purpose: A portion of income from Tracy’s music and workshops goes towards providing professional development for Malaysian choral educators, or financial support for a Malaysian choral organization. Find out more about it here. New music by various composers/arrangers may have portions of sales going to a cause / initiative of their choice.
I am very grateful for the generosity, guidance, and patience of Jocelyn Hagen, Timothy Takach, and their stellar team of Graphite Publishing (shoutout to Erika Malpass and Dale Trumbore!). They have been supportive of my path of choral advocacy and new directions in music consumption from our first meeting - in fact, they were the ones who proposed the series and provided me this platform!
In the near future, I look forward to adding more music by choral composer-arranger-educator-conductors (I know you quadruple threats are out there!) who are interested in collaborating to meet the above goals. It would be an honour to share this platform, as I venture into the exciting world of self-publishing!
2021 Announcement
I am learning how to do the work, and I invite you to join me if you feel our values align :)
About my music:
I am constantly learning and developing the way in which I deliver my musical intent in my choral works and I am aware that my vision in new choral music might be different from the styles and approaches that some might be accustomed to. Therefore, my music will always come with the necessary information to support choral musicians in their learning process - eg. historical & cultural significance, translation, international phonetic alphabet guide, audio recordings, etc. Through discussions with, and feedback from, mentors and trusted colleagues, I continue to refine the manner in which I provide these information.
This pandemic, for me, has been a time of listening, and a time of learning. I am understanding what my privileges might be at a particular point in history, and how I can also be an empowered voice for the various communities I identify with and represent. I envision my music from Page to Performance, through Pedagogy, and am finding ways to be supportive of those who are allies for cultural acknowledgement of repertoire programming of my music.
Therefore, moving forward, I am committing 10% of income earned from my choral works, learning resources, and workshops on Malaysian-themed choral/vocal/composition/music towards funding Malaysian artists and music educators I collaborate with on current and future artistic & educational initiatives.
About my audio recordings:
Since the pandemic, I have begun making audio recordings of most of my choral music, which means that folks will be able to HEAR my music before deciding to purchase them. I take pride in doing my best to make sure that these are representative of me and are “ethically-sourced”. This means that the audio recordings and learning tracks for my own music would be edited and/or recorded by choral musicians who speak the language(s) I set music to, and have the lived experience of the culture which I do my best to honour through my music. These musicians are paid for their time, experience, skill, and artistry.
I am learning how to do the work, and I invite you to join me if you feel our values align :)
Tracy Wong
A little Canadian anniversary.
Today is a strange-turned-special day. I have been gravitating to my favourite blue and white scarf all week, and walking around the house today with a weird feeling in my gut. It turns out, the universe (and Facebook memories) reminded me that today marks my seventh year in Canada.
Today is a strange-turned-special day. I have been gravitating to my favourite blue and white scarf all week, and walking around the house today with a weird feeling in my gut. It turns out, the universe (and Facebook memories) reminded me that today marks my seventh year in Canada.
So now I sit in the kitchen and reminisce about my journey so far. The picture (with said blue and white scarf) reminded me of the long and tiring flight from Malaysia, but the big and welcoming smiles of Geneviene Wong (in Vancouver) and Melissa Morgan (in Toronto). It is now mind-boggling to me that I left behind family, friends, choirs, and career, and packed my hopes and dreams into two luggages. All because my gut told me that it was time to go back to school to fill an almost empty cup… in a country so far away that it would be too expensive to just quit and run home (practical, no?). Perhaps it was the gutsiness of being a 30-year-old then.
Since my arrival in Canada, I have met people who see the potential (and good) in me that I don’t always see in myself, and supportive friends who make me laugh. I have thrown myself at opportunities (#hustle), dealt with heartbreaks and disappointments, and am blessed to have mentors and friends who still stand with me and nudge me forward. “Happy are the flexible, for they shall bend but not be broken,” says Dr. A. I continue to be inspired and motivated by the musicians and choirs I have the opportunity to collaborate with, and give back the best way I am able to. I constantly remind myself that I am a product of my family’s generous love and sacrifice.
Here’s to my seventh year in Canada. A little older, hopefully a little wiser. Always grateful.