Hope yet for Penang House of Music – a Penang legacy       

Despite news of shutting down due to financial constraints, Penang House of Music’s (PhoM) founder, Paul Augustin is hopeful for an amicable solution to save his establishment from closure. 

He believes that with proper support, they can navigate through these challenges and continue to preserve Malaysia’s rich musical culture and heritage.

“I do not mind moving anywhere else if it means we can have proper support and a suitable place to continue the work we’re doing. 

“PhoM is more than an archive for Penang. It has become a repository for our Malaysian music heritage. 

In fact, it is the only one in Southeast Asia and we work alongside academicians and researchers, locally and internationally,” said the 65-year-old music enthusiast who was also the brainchild of the Penang Island Jazz Festival. 

Penang House of Music’s unexpected journey

PhoM’s inception was unexpected, evolving from Paul’s involvement in the Penang Island Jazz Festival, two music exhibitions, and a book project.

After gathering extensive information for the book, Dato’ Seri Jaseni Maidinsa, then CEO of Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang, prompted Augustin to consider making this information accessible to the public.

This led to discussions with then Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, resulting in approvals and the eventual establishment of PhoM in 2016.

Paul, with just eight months at his disposal, grappled with the task of conceptualising, designing, renovating, and executing PhoM’s plan.

Despite scouring the internet for inspiration, he found no existing model matching his vision—a permanent interactive gallery, a ‘black box’ performance space, and a resource centre combined.

Luckily, Penang’s vibrant history offered abundant inspiration, complemented by the book ‘Just for the Love of It,’ authored by Paul in collaboration with James Lochhead.

The book explores Penang’s popular music scene from the 1930s to the 1960s and includes a complimentary CD. Published by Gerak Budaya in 2015, it quickly sold out within two months of its initial release and is currently in its third printing.

Beyond archives: PhoM’s impact and challenges

PhoM has amassed thousands of photographs, CDs, historical documents, and artefacts in its archives. Researchers from across the world have visited PhoM to explore not just the local music history but also that of Malaysia and the neighbouring region.

“We not only built our library and archives but also used the information and documents gathered to produce articles and research documentaries such as the Jimmy Boyle Research documentary.

PhoM has also extended support to individuals such as Maran Perianen, an independent producer, for his Alleycats documentary series by offering information, documents, and footage.

However, despite receiving financial aid from the state government between 2020 and 2022, PhoM faced significant challenges due to the impact of COVID-19.

He added that the institution, occupying 6,800 square feet on the fourth floor of the ICT mall in Komtar, incurs a monthly rental fee of RM17,045.

This rental is payable to the management of the ICT Mall, which leases the space from the Penang Development Corporation (PDC).

A legacy under threat: Voices unite in support of PhoM

PHoM has, over the years gained many supporters for their dedication to documenting and preserving the country’s historical journey.

Many others, including Dr James Boyle recognise Penang House of Music’s crucial role in educating future generations about the history and evolution of our country’s music. 

Dr James, currently serving as the Dean of Music at Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan (ASWARA), boasts an impressive musical lineage as the son of renowned composer Jimmy Boyle.

Jimmy, whose music has been played on BBC and The Voice of America and has also received praise from the likes of Charles Lloyd and Jack Teagarden, both of whom are world-renowned jazz legends.

Expressing concern, Jimmy Boyle’s son, Dr James said, “It would indeed be a significant loss to Penang and Malaysia if PHoM were to cease operations.” 

Reminiscing about the days of the past, Paul recalled notable names in the local industry who came from Penang, such as Ahmad Merican, Jimmy Boyle, Ahmad Daud, Zainal Alam, Ooi Eow Jin, Ahmad Nawab, and Richard Hoon. “And of course, P. Ramlee,” he said.

As a closing remark, Paul remarked succinctly with a hint of defiance and pride, “A nation without its culture, arts and music is like a nation without a soul.” 

On a separate matter, renowned musician Shun Boy, the former lead guitarist of Alleycats, will be gathering some old musician friends to PhoM on 20 February 2024 at 3.30 pm, for an impromptu jam session in solidarity with this cherished Penang legacy during its time of uncertainty.