TAQSIM

by Dr. Raja Zulkarnain     “ The Post-Script Project revisits selected key moments and stories—from personal experiences to features in newspapers and magazines—that shaped my journey with the oud (gambus) from 2003 to 2024. Each reflection offers fresh insights, connecting past experiences to the present while exploring the oud’s cultural and personal significance. ” In 2013, I published a book titled Oud Warisan Seni Dari Timur Tengah, which aimed to clarify a long-standing misconception in Malaysia and the wider Nusantara region. For years, the terms gambus and oud were used interchangeably, despite the fact that these are two distinct instruments with different histories, physical characteristics, and playing techniques. This confusion had persisted for generations, embedded in local musical traditions and cultural narratives. Having spent nearly a decade researching the subject, I felt a strong need to present a more accurate perspective on the instrument’s identity. ...

by Dr. Raja Zulkarnain     “ The Post-Script Project revisits selected key moments and stories—from personal experiences to features in newspapers and magazines—that shaped my journey with the oud (gambus) from 2003 to 2024. Each reflection offers fresh insights, connecting past experiences to the present while exploring the oud’s cultural and personal significance. ” In this Post-Script #6, we revisit the article from Berita Harian (April 1, 2014), which highlighted the pioneering implementation of APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning) in Malaysia. The article captured a historic moment—one where I, alongside other trailblazers, received the APEL certification from the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), presented by the Minister of Higher Education. It was a pivotal recognition of professional experience as a legitimate qualification for academic advancement. But what the article didn’t capture was the long-term strategy behind my participation in this initi...

by Dr. Raja Zulkarnain “ The Post-Script Project revisits selected key moments and stories—from personal experiences to features in newspapers and magazines—that shaped my journey with the oud (gambus) from 2003 to 2024. Each reflection offers fresh insights, connecting past experiences to the present while exploring the oud’s cultural and personal significance. ” In revisiting the Kosmo! article  “Petikan Tali Gambus”  (July 31, 2012), I am struck by how deeply the oud—or gambus, as we call it in Malaysia—has resonated across cultures. The second part of the article highlights the dedication required to master the instrument, featuring musicians such as Sherine Tohamy, a passionate Egyptian oud player, and Abbas Naji Kassamany, a Lebanese virtuoso, both of whom emphasized the technical and emotional depth of the oud. It also sheds light on the insights of Majid Nazampur, an Iranian researcher, who noted the cultural adaptations of the instrument acros...

by Dr. Raja Zulkarnain “ The Post-Script Project revisits selected key moments and stories that shaped my journey with the oud (gambus) from 2003 to 2024. Each reflection offers fresh insights, connecting past experiences to the present, while exploring the oud’s cultural and personal significance. ” When  Kosmo!  published the article  'Petikan Tali Gambus'  by Nasri Jamaludin on July 31, 2012, gambus music in Malaysia was still deeply influenced by the melodies popularized by the late Raja Gambus, Fadzil Ahmad. The article reflected on the artistic journey of a maestro who not only popularized the gambus in Malaysia but also brought national recognition to the instrument on the international stage. Now, more than a decade later, his passion and dedication to gambus music continue to live on. In December 2024,  Dewan Budaya  published the article  " Legasi Raja Gambus Malaysia " , detailing the long journey of the late maestro in elevating the art of ...

by Dr. Raja Zulkarnain “ The Post-Script Project revisits selected key moments and stories that shaped my journey with the oud (gambus) from 2003 to 2024. Each reflection offers fresh insights, connecting past experiences to the present, while exploring the oud’s cultural and personal significance. ” Kosmo!2 Rencana Utama, 16 January 2012, by Basir Abu Bakar. In this post-script, we will look at how 13 years ago an ambitious initiative by the Ministry of Higher Education aimed to reshape how Malaysians engage with music education. The Program Latihan 1 Malaysia (PL1M) was an effort to make practical skills training accessible to people from all walks of life, particularly in arts and music. It was a bold attempt to merge tradition with modernity, introducing the public to instruments that reflected Malaysia’s cultural identity while also embracing contemporary music forms. As part of this initiative, the National Conservatory of Arts (NCA) became a key player in the teaching and lea...