Sacred Choral Composition: Southeast Asian Idioms and/for a Scottish Collegiate Choir

This presentation explores the emergent opportunities for innovation in sacred choral music through the integration of Southeast Asian musical idioms, thereby promoting cultural inclusivity and enriching liturgical practices. Despite increasing interest in global(-ised) music practices, there remains limited exploration into how Southeast Asian musical traditions can be effectively incorporated within sacred choral settings, particularly within collegiate choirs trained in Western paradigms. The objective is to investigate the potential for Southeast Asian idioms, such as vernacular texts and drone-melody structures, to inform sacred choral compositions, fostering intercultural dialogue and theological reflection that challenges established Eurocentric norms.

Employing a practice-led research method, this study involves a collaborative effort with the University of Glasgow Chapel Choir from 2023 to 2025. The approach includes compositional experimentation and reflective analysis grounded in liturgical contextualisation frameworks (e.g., Loh I-to, Lim Swee Hong) alongside postcolonial critiques (e.g., José Maceda, Kok Roe-Min, Peter Phan, Grace Nono). Experiential insights from the creative process reveal that integrating Southeast Asian musical traditions necessitates a collaborative adaptation process to address issues of accessibility and cultural unfamiliarity within Western-trained choirs. The integration of Southeast Asian idioms into Western sacred choral music not only fosters theological dialogue but also highlights the fluid nature of authenticity and tradition. By positioning sacred choral music as a dynamic site for cultural exchange, I explore the contemporary sacred choral repertoire for its potential to deepen intercultural connections between diverse musical traditions and communities.