Gambang Kromong

A traditional Betawi orchestra which is a blend of gamelan orchestras, Western music with patterned Chinese pentatonic tones. This orchestra is closely related to the Chinese community Betawi, especially Chinese Peranakan and popular in the 1930's. Kromong gamelan instruments on xylophone consists of: wooden xylophone, a set of five tones bonang called kromong, two stringed instrument such as fiddle, with a resonator made of coconut shell and a mini called ohyan gihyan, diatonic tunings blown flute transverse, kenong and drum. While the musical instruments from the West include the trumpet, guitar, violin, and saxophone.
Around 1937 the orchestra-orchestral xylophone kromong reached peak popularity, one of the famous xylophone Kromong Ngo Hong Lao, with players consisting of all the Chinese people. Musical instruments in the orchestra is considered the most complete, consisting of the following tools: a wooden xylophone; kromong set; Chinese fiddle four different sizes; stringed stringed instrument called Sam Hian; an bangsing bamboo, two pieces of equipment cengceng type called Ningnong; pair of Pan, the two pieces of wood together to give congregation dilagakan (tempo). Scales were used, such as the barrel is not slendro gamelan Javanese, Sundanese or Balinese, but typical Chinese mode, which in his native country formerly Che Tshi scales, like that heard on gambang.Susunan kromongnya pots are as follows: (A ) (G) (E) (D) (C) (D) (E) (C) (G) (A)
As for the so-called "Chinese fiddle ', a big size called su kong, according to the barrel-dawainya strings, which mimics the tone and tone kong su. Fiddle with medium size called hoo day, because strings-hoo dawainya tuned according to the tone and the tone of the day. Smallest fiddle called a kong hian, according to mimic the sound of the barrel Chinese tones. Trigon which have a size slightly larger than a hian kong, is named tee hian, a barrel similar to a hian kong barrel.
Sam Hian is a stringed instrument that is played by plucked like playing the guitar, and the instrument plays the melody line (nuclear melody) in the orchestra. Third dawainya tuned tone with notation as such, when the orchestra plays xylophone Kromong typical Chinese songs called Pat FEM, it is also used in the form of additional brass flute, the propagators sosa and cai in (siao sona). The first time appeared in Batavia, was just named xylophone orchestra. Since the beginning of the 20th century, began to use additional instruments, namely bonang or kromong, so the orchestra is called xylophone Kromong. In those days almost every region in the Betawi have Kromong Xylophone orchestra, and even spread to areas Jatinegara, Falkirk, Bekasi, Cibinong, Bogar, Sukabumi, Tangerang, and Serang.
For wealthy Chinese, boss-boss or babah-babah in the "Batavia Centrum", it is a custom and tradition, to enliven their various parties and their celebrations, calling bevy kromong xylophone to play. For example, a wedding, it's not perfect if you do not call the orchestra as it was into the party. Music and singing to the accompaniment of xylophone kromong is common also felt not enough acid salts, if not accompanied by drinking wine, brandy or alcohol. Musicians consists of Betawi people or Chinese.
In the traditional celebration of the Chinese nation, the Cap Go Meh not forget enlivened with xylophone Kromong. Repertoire xylophone Kromong very well known by the public audience, among others: Broken Dishes, Duri Apex, Chief Writing, Go Girl Nio, Thio Kong len, Engko the Baba, and others. Additionally kromong xylophone, usually accompanied by the play-play, such as: Pitung, Pitung robber Betawi, Bonceng friend, Angkri Hanged, and others.The song is the famous xylophone Kromong Jali-Jali. While the song kind of pride xylophone Kromong lullabies, entitled ovaries-the ovaries. This orchestra has a repertoire of original in Chinese, called Phobin songs. Because the singers mostly made up of aboriginal women, the repertoire Phobin not sung, but played as a "gending" (instrumental). It's not because these compositions are inherently gending, because many of them really are "Lied" or vocal track for the song. Among the songs pobin is: Say Soe Hwee Bin (Joo Su Say's back), Kim Hoa Tjoen (Kim Hoa flower growing), Bouw Pek Tan (Bow Tan nan white flowers), Kong Djie Lok, Djien Kwie Hwee (return the return of a hero named Siek Jin Kwie).In ancient times, the Dutch East Indies era orchestras-orchestral xylophone Kromong who is Chinese-Indonesian, it often does not have a female vocalist that can sing-songstress Po-po-bin-bin in Chinese. That's why the song was played in instrumental only, but most had to sing, because it is a vocal melodies. Indonesian language songs played by the orchestra Xylophone Kromong song is adored flowers and figures, such as Break-plate, Duri Apex, Chief Writing, Co Nio Girl, Tion Kong In, Engko the Baba, and besides the story of past events, for example Bonceng Dude, stories Pitung robber Betawi, Angkri story Hanged in Betawi. As one of the popular lullaby that time was the ovaries-the ovaries.Kromong xylophone as a collection of harmonious musical blend of elements from native Chinese elements. Xylophone Orchestra Kromong not be separated from the service Nie Kong Hoe, a musician and leader of the group in mid-eighteenth-century Chinese in Jakarta. Top prakarsanyalah, merging musical instruments commonly found in gamelan (slendro and selendro) coupled with musical instruments coming from China. In times past, the orchestra Xylophone Kromong only owned by babah-babah peranakan living around Tangerang, Bekasi and Jakarta. In addition to accompany the song, Xylophone Kromong commonly used for the dance accompanist Cokek social dance, dance performances and theater Lenong new creations.
Xylophone Kromong been considered as Betawi music, but it is actually a strong mixing with Chinese music, introduced by the Chinese fort that still reside behind the Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Cengkareng, Banten province.
The castle is a popular Chinese term for the Peranakan (Kiaw zinc), the offspring of the result of mixing between men China (sin kheh) and female (housekeeper) in the Teluk Naga, Tangerang, Banten. Mixing it makes the skin color is different from the Chinese fort Chinese people in general. Their eyes narrow, but the color of his skin tan.
Moreover, in contrast with some other Chinese who can speak Hokkien, the Chinese people are generally only able Fortress Malay. Perhaps the housekeeper would rather teach their children to the local language rather than submit to the husband's background.
Culture that was born from the process of acculturation-"mingling with the cultural traditions of China's domestic culture-" the uniqueness of the community is what makes China Citadel. One of them looked at kromong xylophone music is very popular in this area.
Xylophone KromongIf popular music trying to build a pop culture and ideal for society, xylophone music kromong express trip to the uniqueness of the local culture in them. Xylophone kromong identical to the Chinese is the result of a combination Fortress Betawi music and Chinese music instruments, sometimes with European instruments.
Currently, xylophone kromong owned by two groups of people, namely the Peranakan community (result intermarriage between Chinese and indigenous) and the Betawi people. Peranakan community or Betawi generally reside in the same area and share the same Betawi Malay accent.