Folk singer Roslan a hit at Russian festival
THERE’S hardly anyone in Malaysia who does not know Roslan Madun, the author and performer of traditional literary works, whether they are songs, pantun, seloka, gurindam or nazam.
He has also been composing lyrics and music in the style of folk, popularising folk songs since 1982.
The songs Lemak Manis and Seloka Pak Kaduk topped radio charts on the east coast of the country for almost the whole of 2009.
Realising the importance of preserving national heritage, he created the Anggun Performing Arts Club in Temerloh, which has held folk festivals annually since 2009.
He also writes plays and scripts for television dramas, and acts in movies like Penanggal: The Curse of the Malayan Vampire in 2013. He has toured Singapore (1982), Japan (1986), Indonesia (1991) and South Korea (1993).
He is an Utusan Group Literary Prize laureate (2006), and has won three awards from the sultan of Pahang (2003, 2006 and 2009).
And now he received a new award — a laureate of the international competition of folk singers called Voices of the Ancient Cities, which was held this year in Russian town of Ryazan as part of the IV International Forum of Ancient Cities under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
The competition was designed to identify original singers, preserve and develop the traditions of the national singing culture in its regional stylistic diversity, attract public attention to the musical cultural heritage of ancient cities around the world, and organise international cultural exchanges.
These festivals are important because folk songs are an expression of the soul and character of people. They do not appear by chance. They help to express joy and sorrow, facilitate work and colour the minutes of rest, besides expressing feelings, moods and attitude to the phenomena of life.
That is why many genres of folk songs have appeared: to lull children to sleep (lullabies); to raise them (nursery rhymes); to work quickly (labour songs), or to have brighter and more fun while relaxing (dancing songs).
Soldiers’ songs not only help to raise the spirit in defending the motherland, detail exploits of heroes, and express love for native land and loved ones, but also delight in moments of respite.
Lyrical, drawn-out round dances help express all the wealth of feelings and of the soul.
The competition was held online in two categories: youth (from 18 to 30 years old) and adult (31 years old and above).
A total of 53 performers of folk songs from 11 countries (Russia, Azerbaijan, Albania, Uzbekistan, China, Malaysia, Palestine, Belarus, Moldova, Turkey and Japan) participated.
Russia was represented by participants from 15 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, while Malaysia had Roslan as its representative. It was his first participation and immediately after gaining the title of a laureate. Apparently, the artiste’s performance touched the soul of the authoritative jury.
Talking about his participation, he said: “Forty years ago, folk songs were ignored. Pop songs became a favourite of many, and I had a chance to be popular in the pop stream. Yet I am determined to popularise folk songs.
“The International Contest Of Folk Song Artists, Voices of Ancient Cities is the sweetest climax after spending my young years with folk songs.
“The experience of singing folk songs and playing tambourines at the International Youth Village in Fukuoka, Japan, in 1989, in Taejon, South Korea, in 1993 and in other countries, such as Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei and Cambodia, has motivated me to stay in this trend.
“The 15 albums I produced throughout this struggle are proof of my loyalty to folk songs and traditional poetry. Yet the laureate of the II degree recognition in this competition is everything to me. Of course I feel honoured by this award, and thank the organisers.”
Roslan and other laureates of the competition will once again appear at a gala concert next month as part of the IV International Forum of Ancient Cities.