Malaysian musicians reimagine Benjamin Britten's "Lost" Malaysian national anthem

In 1957, Benjamin Britten was amongst the composers who were invited to submit their compositions for consideration as the soon-to-be independent Malaya's national anthem. Britten's composition, which he later described as "a curious and I'm afraid rather unsuccessful job", was rejected, and has, for the most part, languished in obscurity since. 

Now, a group of Malaysian musicians are presenting a reimagining of this piece in an arrangement for viola and piano, and another for string quartet. Musicologist and violist Dr. Andrew Filmer who commissioned these arrangements, described that they did indeed note some areas in the original composition that could have been developed further. These performances will feature re-edits to the music, which he hopes Britten himself would have been pleased with. "We decided to extend what we assume would have been the main chorus for the anthem, which allowed for a more impactful and stronger form of the piece," shared Timmy Lim, who produced the arrangements for this project. 

Watch now: Benjamin Britten's "Lost" Malaysian National Anthem, arranged for viola and piano

The arrangement for string quartet drops on Malaysia Day, September 16th. 

These videos mark the first professional recordings of the piece. 

The score of this "lost" work has never been published, and has previously appeared online via a clip of the music being played on piano, posted by author and journalist Alex Marshall who obtained the sheet music directly from the Britten Pears Foundation. 

This project features the work of two generations of Malaysian musicians: industry veterans pianist Robin Lee, violinist Mabel Wong, and violist Andrew Filmer, alongside young professionals violinist Lim Zhi Hsuan and cellist Timmy Lim. 

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