Patricia Matusky is an ethnomusicologist who has done music field research and taught for many years in Malaysia. She is the author of Malaysian Shadow Play and Music, Continuity of an Oral Tradition (OUP 1993, and The Asian Centre of Penang and Kuala Lumpur 1997) as well as many articles on the traditional music of Malaysia in encyclopedias and international journals. Her publications as co-author include Muzik Malaysia: Tradisi Klasik, Rakyat dan Sinkretik (The Asian Centre 1997) and Pengantar Muzik Malaysia, Vols. I-II (The Asian Centre 1998-99) with Tan Sooi Beng, and Muzik Wayang Kulit Kelantan (The Asian Centre 1998) with the Dalang Hamzah Awang Amat. Tan Sooi Beng is an Associate Professor in Ethnomusicology at the Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang. She is the author of Bangsawan, A Social and Stylistic History of Popular Malay Opera (OUP 1993 and The Asian Centre of Penang and Kuala Lumpur 1997) and many articles on popular music, arts education and Chinese music in Malaysia. She is the editor of Wacana Seni, Journal of Arts Discourse (USM, 2002).

'... an important addition to the literature on Southeast Asian performing arts. It is indispensable as a reference book for all serious students of Malaysian music and culture, and will provide scholars interested in the performance cultures of other Asian countries with vivid comparators and points of connection and exchange.' Aseasuk News '... this book will serve as an excellent sourcebook or textbook for courses on the music of Southeast Asia.' Asian Folklore Studies 'This useful book by two respected specialists is the first to encompass the folk, classical and syncretic music genres of Malaysia...There is no other source comparable for Malaysia, and thus this is an extremely valuable contribution.... a useful teaching tool and source of information on the major musical genres of Malaysia.’ Ethnomusicology Forum'This study is well-written, informative and an excellent resource for seminal work with under- and post-graduate students...The book is very well-edited, includes several pictures and gives many musical examples. A long bibliography and an exhaustive index round off the impression that this overview on Malaysian music is a very useful book indeed...’ Asien

• Contents: Preface; Introduction; Music of the major theatrical forms; Music of the major dance forms; Music of the percussion ensembles; Vocal and solo instrumental music; Social popular music and ensembles; Contemporary art and popular music; Appendix; Bibliography; Discography and videography; Index.