Inspired by traditional Malay rhythms, Laksa! utilizes various percussive instruments to showcase the preparation of the iconic local dish. The piece also highlights the harmony between Malay and Chinese influences with sections that use instruments commonly found in the Chinese Orchestra, echoing the same influences used to create laksa itself. From the fishing of cockles to the clanging of the wok while cooking, Laksa! aims to deliver a musical experience in your local kitchen.

Composed by: John Tan Jon Young (Etudes of Elijah)

Laksa!

Prayer over Uncertain Waters showcases a fervent prayer for safe travels at sea, only for the voyage to meet its end before it reaches its intended destination. Contrasting harmonies and delicate melodies deliver an almost mournful experience of the voyage’s demise and gradually approaches a sense of hopelessness as the piece progresses through stumbling changes in tempo before resolving into a sense of loss.

Composed by: John Tan Jon Young (Etudes of Elijah)

Prayer Over Uncertain Waters

"Only You" is a sci-fi OST composed in participation of the Thailand Game Jam x OST Composing Jam. In conjunction with the theme "Close to You" this piece was heavily inspired by retro space arcade games and features sampled 8-bit elements and 808s, as well as Asian influences.

Composed by: ellihn
Mix and master by: ellihn
Cover art by: ellihn

Ellihn - Only You

A homage to the suffering experienced by people during times of war, A Scream in the Dark encapsulates the poignant emotions of melancholy, dominance, and hysteria. With the cello opening the piece in Bb Minor, a major seventh interval in the opening melody sets the piece’s heart-wrenching mood. This melody is later joined contrapuntally by the viola and violins weaving between one another in order to portray notions of mourning. The piece then enters the next section in a crescendo. Led by an ostinato of the violas and the second violin,  the first violin then enters and heralds the main war-like theme before being joined by an interaction with the cello. This secondary melody is then handed over to the second violin and the cello takes on a more supportive role as the theme reaches its climax. The cello then transitions and modulates monophonically into C minor, portraying a period of solemnity and lamenting. The rest of the strings then join in staggered entrances, layering upon each other like overlapping wails before the first violin enters a monologue and modulates monophonically back into Bb minor. The second violin - and later the viola and cello - joins in desperation and together the quartet starts to portray notions of panic as they enter an accelerando before a singular note from the first violin pierces through the clamor like a scream. The piece then enters into a recapitulation of the main war theme before coming to a close, asserting that the cycle of war never really ends.

A Scream In The Dark

An Embrace of the Whimsical aims to encapsulate all things weird and wonderful. Beginning in Eb minor, the contrapuntal string voices open the piece with the main mysterious and almost mystical-like motif in 3/8, portraying a revelation into a new whimsical world.  The piece then pivots into a dance-like theme in A Lydian with the viola and cello leading the motif in 8/8, portraying a playful dance through this new and mystical realm. The first violin then enters and transitions the piece into a passionate and intense section that brings the quartet to a climax with all 4 voices coming together in a unison C# minor ostinato, highlighting the fervent anticipation for what’s to come next. The second violin then takes the lead and begins an interaction with the viola, emulating curious children discussing amongst one another and continuing the theme of anticipating what is to come. This interaction is also brought over to the viola and first violin before the piece slows down and pivots into Ab Major, with the first violin and viola taking turns to lead the quartet in a mixed metre of 6/8 and 7/8. The quartet then modulates into Gb Major and introduces the final theme in 3/4, emulating the glory of this new world but also signifying the finality and closure of this adventure. With the 4 voices weaving in and out of one another, the cello then shines through with a warm solo before having the rest of the voices join in a staggered entry and highlighting the climax of the section before mellowing down at the end. A recapitulation of the first main theme then begins again, asserting that this newly discovered whimsical world will never end and urges one to embrace it, ending the piece on a Eb7(sus4) almost as if to ask: what’s next? The cello then ends off with a Eb pizzicato in response akin to telling the listener that the rest is for them to find out.

An Embrace Of The Whimsical

Journey To The West combines influences from both Malay ethnic rhythms, as well as traditional Chinese melodies. Performed with a violin, erhu, accordion, and frame drum, the piece's arrangement depicts a transition from familiar Western soundscapes and how it transforms into a more ethnic dimension, almost as if the entire piece is a journey in itself.

Journey To The West

An aspiring composer with over 10 years of musical experience. Specializing in scoring for visuals, songwriting, and orchestral composition, with aspirations to emphasize honoring one's sense of self through his music.

Etudes of Elijah

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