The US Grammy Award winners performing on stage.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah International Folklore Festival can incorporate traditional music from other countries and combine them with the traditional music in Sabah.
Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said the possibility of doing so was being considered in future Sabah International Folklore Festival as it would serve as a forum to get to know traditional music from other countries, as well as to introduce Sabahan music to the world.
The programme was sponsored by the Embassy of the United States of America and organized by the Society of Performing Arts Kota Kinabalu Sabah (SPArKS), he said when speaking in an interview after a musical performance by Grammy Award winners, Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer with fiddler virtuoso Barbara Lamb as part of the American Music Abroad programme at Wisma Wanita here on Wednesday.
Cathy and Marcy have performed together as folk music duo since 1980 and with Barbara as a trio since two years ago.
Over the years, the trio has released several albums, won two Grammy Awards in 2004 and 2005, and wrote more than 200 songs as well as toured extensively.
The trio performs all sort of American folk-bluegrass country music and plays a range of instruments including guitars, banjos, violin and ukuleles.
Cathy, Marcy and Barbara have also performed with local artistes including the Rhythm of Borneo.
Masidi said the trio has delivered a lively performance, albeit their age, and the lesson to be learnt by our local musicians was not to let age be an obstacle to an excellent performance.
He said the performance, themed American roots, was different from what we usually hear in Kota Kinabalu.
Masidi also noted that the trio gave recognition to local musicians to perform together, which showed how different genres of music could be combined.
“I hope there can be more music performances like this, not only for entertainment, but to give an opportunity for local musicians to learn from those who are exposed to international music.”
Masidi added that he had talked to the officer from the Embassy of the United States to consider the possibility of sponsoring more American musicians to perform in Kota Kinabalu.
Cathy, when asked how to bring traditional music into the international arena, suggested local musicians to share their performance on websites such as YouTube.
She also suggested working together with Sabah Tourism Board in promoting their music to music festivals in other countries.
Meanwhile, Marcy said a career path traditional music had always been tougher than other genres.
“But you (Sabah) are fortunate because there are people willing to listen, and to broadcast your news and performances on television.
“This is a very important assistance because word-of-mouth is the best promotion.”
Marcy also said local musicians could share their music and their love of traditional music on YouTube.
She believed that Americans would fall in love in our traditional music as well.
As for Barbara, she hoped they could perform once again in Borneo.
“I just want to say that we love Borneo. We love working with your musicians, we love your music and I can’t wait to perform again here.”
Also present at the event were Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Peter Pang En Yin, permanent secretary to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Sabah Datuk Suzannah Liaw, SPArKS president Cheong Kok Ann and information officer of the United States Embassy, Harvey Sernovits.