Betawi, Tanjidor
& Gambang Kromong
Before being called Jakarta, Java’s largest harbor was named Batavia from the Dutch. Still today the native inhabitants from this area speak Betawi, a kind of Malay Creole, and by extension the name stands also for a musical style, including Tanjidor and Gambang Kromong. This latter are mixed kinds par excellence: Javanese, European, Chinese, Arab and Eurasian at the same time. Gambang Kromong got its name and sonorities fom China and today its modern repertory offers an incredible superposition of instruments from every backgrounds: trumpet under Mexican influence and Hawaï-like guitar. Tanjidor comes from the Portuguese colonists (tangedor = musician) and are mainly brass bands, where just like in India, the adaptation of javanese Gamelan harmonies to these Western instruments brings out very strange sounds. Finally among the stars of the Betawi singing, famous Benyamin Sueb and Ida Royani followed other singers from South-east Asia in the renewal of the traditional repertory to a sharp and funny pop music.
the Outskirts of Jakarta -
Gambang Kromong
Music of Indonesia - 3
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings - SFW CD 40057
Topeng Betawi, Tanjidor, Ajeng
Music of Indonesia - 5
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings - SFW CD 40421
Benyamin S. & Ida Royani
Gema - CMNG 538
Lagu Rakyat Pilihan Vol.12
Indonesian Folksongs –
Pertiwi - CMNP 302
• Begini Begitu
(Benyamin S. & Ida Royani).mp3
• Ondel-Ondel
(Benyamin S.).mp3