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Synopsis :

This recording features the fifth and sixth parts of a series on the evolution of Malay music. In the fifth part, the presenter traces the Portuguese influence on Malay music. In the early 16th century the Portuguese established a fort in Melaka. Their descendants formed a small Eurasian community which adhered closely to the religion, language, customs, dances and music of their forefathers. Their music was full of life, rhythm and tuneful melodies. The Malays snapped up some of these rhythms and made them their own. The Chinese in Melaka too were influenced by Portuguese melodies. Musical forms like the ronggeng, dondang sayang and keroncong evolved. The Dutch later conquered Melaka and established a settlement there. They brought Ambon music from Java to Melaka and the best example of this is the popular song 'Rasa Sayang Eh'. Although Spain never ruled in Malaya, there is evidence of some Spanish influence on Malay music. The sixth part of this series looks at the Western influence on Malay music. At the beginning of the 20th Century, with the introduction of the gramophone, radio and cinema, Malay music became more and more harmonic due to Western influence. Soon Malays had operas called bangsawan for high society. These had elaborate costumes.  Another musical form, the seriosa is Malay music sung in a Western classical style. Influence from Latin America in the form of sambas and rumbas crept into Malay music and a group in Radio Malaya called Tiga Sekawan gave Malay melodies Western treatment.