Music Festival To Showcase More Than 150 Harps From Various Countries

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- A collection of more than 150 harps from six countries will be on display at the National Museum in conjunction with the Regional Harp Festival, which will take place here from Nov 21 to 29. The nine-day festival would see participation from countries like Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Yemen, Iraq, and Egypt. Department of Museums Malaysia (JMM) director-general Kamarul Baharin A. Kasim said the festival was aimed at exposing musical heritage to the public, in efforts to conserve the heritage. "The musical instruments (harps) are evidence of cultural assimilation among the people of the Middle East and those of Malaya since time immemorial, and now the harp is the artistic heritage of the country," he told reporters during a festival press conference, here, Thursday. Among the collection of harps on display include a more than 50-year-old 'Malay Harp', and harps decorated with lizard, snake, goat and cow skins. He said the festival would be organised by JMM in collaboration with the Malaysian Harp Association and harp museum artistes from within the country and abroad. To enliven the atmosphere during the musical festival, demonstration and sales stalls, harp presentations, discussions, clinics and competitions would also be held. -- BERNAMA