Malay Music History

Early origins of Malay music and couplets Qasidah

With hindsight, the beginning Malay roots music originating Qasidah as the arrival and spread of Islam in the archipelago in the year 635 - 1600 from the Arabic, Gujarati and Persian, nature poetry readings and then sung. Therefore, the first poem of couplets used were originally sung, and then gradually also used to accompany the dance. [1]

At the time of going through the Suez Canal since it opened migration flows Arabs and Egyptians entered the Dutch East Indies in 1870 until after 1888, they bring a musical instrument harp and play Arabic music. This influence is also mixed with traditional music with poetic couplets and local traditional musical instruments such as gongs, flute, etc..

Then around 1940 born Malay Music Deli, of course the style of this music game is much different from the original as Qasidah, because the development of the poem is not only sang couplets, but has grown far as pop music song and dance accompanist typical Malay east coast of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia.

With the development of electronic technology around after 1950, then introduced the speaker, elektri guitar, keyboards and even development. And equally important is the development of the recording industry since 1950.

The Development of Three Types

Demand and time of birth of the musical instruments used, then there are 3 types of music Malay language:

   - Original Malay music, just with a punch drums or tambourines as Qasidah, estimated in 635 - 1600

   - Traditional Malay music, had been taking musical gong, tambourine, fiddle, flute, estimated year 1800 - 1940

   - Modern Malay music, using modern instruments, in addition to the traditional, such as the violin, guitar, accordion, and the last with a keyboard, expected after 1950

Three Types Malay Music tramp

According Fadlin , there are three types of tramp Music Malay language:

   -  First, the tramp humming, with metric 4/4, in a cycle of eight beats there, usually with a slow rhythm and the song is sad. Sample song is Kuala Deli, Laila Manja.

   -  Second, tramp mak host, with metrics 2/4, tempo songs are, usually themed song of love or friendship. An example is the song Mak Kampa Island Host, Host Stanggi Mak, Links Heart.

   -  Third, the tramp track two, namely the metric 6/8, its cheerful and happy, is dancing, rather fast tempo, very popular with the Malays. Sample song Tanjung uncertain, Sweet Black, At a Glance.