The Penang Philharmonic Winds (PPW) came close to filling the large hall at Dewan Sri Penang on Sunday afternoon, 26 April, presenting a crowd-pleasing programme of movie music highlights. The impressive 60-piece ensemble took to the stage with some of its members fully in the spirit of the programme, sporting costumes from the movie scores on display: a pirate from the Caribbean, a Middle-earth knight, Hogwarts students in their House scarves, and even Sophie Hatter in her yellow dress from Howl's Moving Castle.
PPW started its movie journey at sea with Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, with all the men of the pirate band lowering their weapons (or rather, their horns) and singing “Yo ho, Hoist the colours high!” It was a colourful musical surprise when you’re expecting to hear instrumental band music, their woeful song supported by a busy, enthusiastic nine-member percussion section, snare and bass drum driving the shanty with a steady, sea-like pulse. From the high seas, the band wandered into the forests of Middle-earth, with music from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. At times, the music felt a little adrift without the film’s strong imagery behind it. It was pleasant enough, if a bit too dreamy in the very warm concert hall.
Perhaps this is a good moment to step briefly away from the delightful programme to note the less delightful venue. Dewan Sri Penang is seldom the most comfortable setting for performers or audience alike. The backstage facilities, like the ageing seats in the hall, are worn and inadequate for the needs of a large ensemble. Sunday afternoon’s event was particularly trying—especially on stage—as the building’s air conditioning struggled against the steamy afternoon heat, and murmured complaints were easily overheard. The lack of a proper concert venue in Penang is hardly a new issue; performances like this only underline the need for better facilities.
And now back to the programme! The start of the second half woke everyone up with a rousing rendition of Enchanted, a movie I don’t know, but the music was terrific. Lively selections from Frozen definitely made it feel like the temperature in the hall had come down. On the other hand, Beauty and the Beast always warms hearts, but that was a temperature trade-off everyone could live with. The programme ended with a return to a world of magic and fantasy with a rousing Symphonic Fantasy for Band from Howl's Moving Castle, another movie I had not seen but, judging by the enthusiastic audience reaction (I overheard one person comment, “this was the best thing on the programme!”), it, too, was a fan favourite.
Despite occasional lapses in intonation and ensemble, the energy and commitment of the players never wavered. The long hours of work, practice, and rehearsal were evident from the first to the last note. The audience demanded an encore, and the afternoon ended on a particularly engaging note: a second encore, introduced only with the conductor’s invitation, “You’ll know this—please sing along.” The response was immediate and genuine, a ripple of happy recognition rolling through the hall as the audience heard the first notes of “Sejahtera Malaysia.” They joined in singing, as readily as the band itself, when conductor Ng Choong Yen turned to lead them. It was a warm—indeed, very warm—but a thoroughly enjoyable and pitch-perfect close to an afternoon of concert band music-making by the Penang Philharmonic Winds.
About the writer:
Katie Coolbaugh’s career path took a scenic detour—from programme evaluator to life at sea. For over 20 years, her sailboat had everything except space for a cello. Now anchored in Penang, she’s making up for lost time as principal cellist of the PPO.
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