Selangor Folk Song - Keroncong Selangor

    Folk songs are from a certain country, it is sung by the people of their respective state or even other people.Country songs have in common with the national anthem, but the lyrics only about a purely domestic nature. Usually all states have a folk song, but for the Selangor state they have no right folk song that is so, however, the piece entitled "Keroncong Selangor" is a famous song that was once among the people of the state. why has not only made the song but also made a presentation at a formal celebration, this proves that this song has its own advantages for the people of the state. Through research on the internet, this song is often sung by young people in the past, but the song is less attention, especially among teenagers due to the passage of time.

Keroncong musical instrument

    Traditional musical art of a community must contain the characteristics of a genuine local. It must come from areas where people lived and the creation of local residents handed down from generation to generation. According to historical records music art, Keroncong is derived from Java and taken by people who migrated West in droves in the late 19th century and early 20th century to find work in the West Coast Semenanjung Malaysia especially in Selangor and Perak. Since then, Keroncong began to be accepted by the local community. After that, this music style has changed little by little, nevertheless remains its original form. After 1958, there is a local author who has been successful producing Malay songs patterned . In this study, it is evident that some players figure songwriter and singer Keroncong song local strive to enliven the arts in the local community.

     Keroncong  began in the days of glory of Islam again. Moreover, Keroncong song are not the only music tracks but also be used as a presentation in a formal celebration ceremony etc. Then, people are increasingly interested in the land wither and create Keroncong songs, but music does not get attention, especially among teenagers due to the passage of time.

     Keroncong musical art brought into our country by people who migrated to Pulau Jawa  , looking for work and so on. Most immigrants come from outside West Sumatra, for example, which has brought the arts Caklempong. In addition, Java also carry their art in the form of Gamelan, wayang kulit, barongan, kuda kepang, Ketoprak, martial arts and keroncong. Keroncong is the music of Indonesia, which has a relationship with a history of Portugis music known as ‘Fado '. Keroncong  also stems from the music played by the slaves and the Portugis of India (Goa). This early form of music called "Moresco .This song favoured by the Baba and Nyonya Melaka.

      History Keroncong means rhythm wilt and similar soft rhythm according to the dictionary of the board of the 4th edition. It comes from Betawi (Jakarta). Keroncong songs sung by men Serani called 'Budaya Keroncong'. According to the Allahyarham  Dr. Ariff Ahmad, Keroncong came from Indonesia that brought by merchants who came to trade in Tanah Melayu. 

    Usually in a society they have at least one folk song. There are a few others point of view that folk song have to be genuine and from where one’s race lived. It descend from their great grandfathers or great grandmothers.

     According to Dr.Ariff Ahmad in Keroncong-Selangor Traditional Music, the folk song can be sing by everyone. It does not mean that it belongs to one’s race. In history of arts, one’s race culture usually affected by people who are not from their state and leave impact until today except for those who lived far away from town.

    Then, this music arts is actually come from middle east and brought to Europe by Muslim people when they controlled most of continental in Europe. This music arts can detected in some traditional music art especially at Spain, Greece, Italy and  others country although at this time the form of music has been changed.

    In the beginning, music art is bought by a society which has close ties business and partnership in certain cases becoming only to entertain the foreigners. Those foreigners that always exposed to this music art will become interested to the music and want play it again. After learnt the way to play this music instruments, they tried to play their song and changed the rhythm with their own ways.

It happened on the Ghazal’s traditional song, especially Ghazal Johor. It exist by exposure to Middle Eastern music to the music community in India and there have been changes to the original form of traditional Indian form. Then it was taken by the India’s traders to Malaysia where the change occurred.

    According to the history, Selangor have influenced by the people of Acheh and particularly from Bugis people. Their culture had detected in the way of life of Selangor people. This situation also occurred in same area on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia such as Kedah, Perak dan Johor  which all Acheh and Bugis people  believed to have been visited and trade relation with the local people.

     Then there were the phenomenon of the arrival of workers or labourers from Java in the years 20s and 30s who work while on the west coast and some of them continue to live in areas where they work, such as in Kuala Selangor, Klang and Sijangkang. At the same time, people who come from Sumatera Tengah (Mandiling and Rawa) has come to explore some area such as Ulu Langat, Kajang and a few other areas, and after a while, some of them go back to their home countries. With this, the influence of Central Sumatra in several areas in Selangor were increases.

      But in the arts of music, their influence is not too prominent. The more leaves the impression of music is brought by people from the many available in the area Kuala Selangor, Klang and Banting. Keroncong is the one of the traditional music art that they introduce, the only one music art that still play in Selangor and also in radio and television.  There are some of keroncong groups  still exist in Selangor at this time. In Malacca and Penang still have this group but not in other country.

The traditional music arts for Johor is Ghazal , for Penang they have Boria and in Terengganu and  Pahang their special traditional music arts is Gamelan. So Keroncong music arts not been official in any country. Selangor had planned to choose keroncong as the Selangor’s traditional song. But there are no action for encourage and provide the necessary level of art.

    In terms of original form, Keroncong can be accepted as it have traditional nature especially rhythm, song, and musical instrument used. Compared with other traditional music art that can be found in Selangor as original music, drums, tambourine and so on, but why only music that could be highlighted. It still has many fans, especially among adults and there also young people. It still can maintain its position in the rock era, but it can also seep into contemporary music.

Lyrics below is a Selangor's Folk Song titled "Keroncong Selangor". This song can inspire in a person and also entertain someone to be relax.

To hear the Selangor Folk song, please click the link below :
http://www.msnselangor.gov.my/jmsn/muat-turun/viewdownload/4-lagu-rasmi-negeri/18-keroncong-selangor