Piano piece specially composed for Sarawak

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KUCHING: A piano musical piece was specially composed for Sarawak by acclaimed pianist Kimball Gallagher.

According to Gallagher who performed at the State Library yesterday, the lively and uplifting piece was written to spell out musical notes to match the name ‘Sarawak’.

“At every place I visit, I will compose a personalised piano work, written using a compositional system to spell out music  notes  to  match  a  name and it is premiered at the venue of the concert host,” he told audiences.

In his concert yesterday, Gallagher performed ‘Moonlight Sonata’ by Beethoven, ‘Ragaslendo’ by Valerie Ross, ‘Ballade No 1’ by F Chopin and selections of his 88 preludes.

The concert yesterday was Gallagher’s 55th concert in his 88-concert tour which seeks to revive salon culture by performing in intimate venues.

The unique four-year tour continues to gain momentum with performances in private homes throughout the United States and distinguished venues all over the world.

His prelude for the King of Thailand and the Siam Society will be published in Siam Society Journal and presented to King Bhumibol as a celebration of his seventh cycle.

He is hailed by critics as a dynamo whose performance was ‘sunlit and rapturous’ and ‘like a lightning bolt’.

Gallagher earned his undergraduate degree at Rice University in the studio of Jeanne Kierman-Fischer and his Master of Music degree as a pupil of Robert McDonald at The Juilliard School.