Piql Book of References

Preserving Malaysia’s Music Heritage - A labour of love... Case Study

Preserving Malaysia’s Music Heritage - A labour of love... The Penang House of Music (PHoM) is a heritage resource center located in Penang Island which was part of Britain’s Straits Settlement (including Malacca and Singapore) in the 1820s. As an entrepôt for over 200 years, the island is the epitome of diverse historical cultures and deep, rich heritage in Malaysia

At its inception, PHoM’s collections and archives focused on the island’s local community’s cultural andmusical traditions. Music, literature and information on social entertainment and the lives of Penang’s pioneer singers and bands were collected,

PHOM’S ARCHIVE 78rpm Vinyls from recording company greats like Pathe, Gramophone Concert and Odeon, including one that dates back to 1903. Early recordings, music tapes, cartridges, cassettes to early day CDs. Multi-lingual entertainment magazines and social souvenir books onmusical and cultural events spanning the 50s to 70s. Timeless photographs, radio song request cards, newspapers and school song books of the same period. One literary gem is a school exercise-book of a British Army personnel on guitar chords, possibly studied in the 1930s.

documented and catalogued. Today, the archive has expanded to include materials and records of the country and surrounding region’s heritage in cultural diversity and performing arts.

All rights reserved © Piql AS 2022 - Rev. 01-2022