Krontjong Music From Indonesia

 

Djiko untuang

Krontjong Music From Indonesia
Song And Sound The World Around
Philips 831 229 PY stereo
1973

From the back cover:  The word "krontjong" has three different meanings that are, however, connected with each other. Firstly it is the name of a typically Indonesian stringed instrument that resembles the Hawaiian ukelele.

This instrument gave its name to a kind of music that again is typically Indonesian, the "krontjong music," which has been known in Indonesia since the 15th century.

Every song composed for interpretation in this style is also called a "krontjong."

Krontjong music developed from Western musical elements but native musical sources like "gamelan music" also exercised their influence on its origin. (Listen to Philips 831 209 PY - "Gamelan music from Java."

When the Indonesians became familiar with Western musical instruments, they looked for those that came nearest in sound to the classic instruments used with gamelan music.

This resulted in the choice of these substitutes:

The violin for the "Rebab," a classic two-string instrument, for the melody.

The flute for the "Suling," made of bamboo and different in scale from the modern flute, also for the melody.

The guitar for the "Sitar," a classical touched-instrument. The guitar is twanged in a special way and produces a "fill-in" throughout the whole song.

The krontjong itself for the "Kenong," a classic percussion instru- ment made of copper, that produces the beat.

The banjo or mandolin for the "Ritjik," another percussion instrument, to produce the counter-beat.

The cello for the "Kendang," a drum played on both ends, or the "Rebana," a one-sided drum covered with an animal skin, most probably of Arabian origin. The cello is not played with a bow but is plucked in a special way, producing syncopations while keeping up a steady rhythm.

The bass for the "Gong."

Making use of these instruments and, the Western barmonic system, the Indonesians created the Krontjong style, primarily for entertainment.

The Krontjong music is very dear to them as it very often reflects their mood, be it the cheerful or the sentimental side. It has become the musical language of all the inhabitants of this beauti- ful archipelago.

The programme starts with KRONTJONG MORITSKO, a tradi- tional song which has only a melody: it is up to the singer to improvise on the text.

NINA BOBO is a lullaby. The mother, usually carrying her baby in a "slendang" (shawl) on her back, sings it as she rocks the child very gently. The song is taught to little girls who want to rock their dolls to sleep, and later they, in turn, pass it on to their daughters.

STAMBUL DJAMPANG is a traditional song in which the verses are chosen according to the mood of the singer.

BULAN PURNAMA (full moon) is a song depicting a tropical night when the moon is in her full glory. Two people promise each other to be together for ever.

KRONTJONG MAWAR SEKUNTUM means "Pretty rosebud" and the melody gives the singer wide scope for personal verses to express love for another.

RUDJAK ULEG is the name of an Indonesian fruit salad. The song, full of humour, tells how tasty it is.

DJIKO UNTUANG, which opens Side 2, is a popular West Sumatran song in which the singer tells how she feels when she is lucky enough to be in love.

NASIB TAMBANGAN, which comes from Central Kalimantan, tells of the fate of a ferry-boatman who dearly loved his work of taking people across the river.

RONDA MALAM is about a night-watch organised by the inhabitants of a certain city quarter. By patrolling periodically criss-cross through the area, striking bamboo sticks rhythmically. the watchmen let the resting people know that all is well.

KRONTJONG AIR LAUT. Entitled "Ocean water," this is an instrumental piece, open to improvisation.

BENGAWAN SOLO is a song about the river Solo in Central Java which has always been an important means of communica- tion for the merchants. It passes many towns before it reaches the ocean.

KRONTJONG PENAWAR DUKA is another instrumental piece, designed this time to cheer up the depressed.