Kroncong: CDs

Title:

Album Tempo Doeloe

Artists:

Kris Biantoro, Koes Hendratmo, and others

Genre:

Kroncong (Indonesian popular music from Java)

Number:

Granada CDST.10004. texts included.

Rating:

best of genre (****)

Tracks:

1. Juwita malam (Kris Biantoro)
2. Sabda Alam (Zwesty Wirabhuana)
3. Aryati (Kris Biantoro)
4. Bahtera Laja (Koes Hendratmo) (185 kB 23s .au sound file)
5. Setangkai Bunga Mawar (Rien Jamain)
6. Jangan Ditanya (Broery Pesolima)
7. Rindu Lukisan (Kris Biantoro)
8. Gugur Bunga (Masnum)
9. Wanita (Johan Oentung)
10. Kroncong Bandar Jakarta (Koes Hendratmo)
11. Selendang Sutera (Jimmy Samalo)
12. Bunga Anggrek (Patty Sisters)
13. Payung Fantasi (Johan Oentung)
14. Sapu tangan dari Bandung Selatan (Zwesty Wirabhuana)
15. Tinggi Gunung Seribu Janji (Johan Oentung)
16. Kopral Jono (Henny Purwonegoro)
17. Dari mana Datangnya Asmara (Kris Biantoro)
18. Sepasang Mata Bola (Zwesty Wirabhuana)
19. Asmara Terpendam (Koes Hendratmo)
20. Sersan Mayorku (Patty Sisters)

A collection of classic '30s and '40s Kroncong songs by today's Indonesian best kroncong singers. All the hits of this prewar Indo (Eurasian) culture are here, sung in the original passionate way. The kroncong, loosely related to the Portuguese fado, is a happy mix of western and oriental influences, and expresses the feeling of 'saudade', love lost, of the Indo culture, lost between Indonesian and Dutch society. Lacking knowledge of the Indonesian language is no barrier for the appreciation of these songs: 'asmara' is passion, 'mawar' rose, 'wanita' woman, 'rindu' shadow and the rest follows easily from that.

Title:

Street Music of Java

Artists:

Various unnamed Yogya street singers

Number:

Original Music OMCD 006.

Rating:

Good (*)

Tracks:

1. Hai Cium Dong (dangdut)
2. Jasi Jali Kroncong Asli (kroncong Batawi)
3. Asoi (dangdut) (142 kB 18s .au sound file, the CD sounds much better)
4. Aku Rela Kau Behagia (kroncong)
5. Aku Rela Di Kau Perg (kroncong)
6. Hinam hinam (melayu)
7. Kuda lumping (dangdut)
8. Panceng Ora Disedya (langgam Java as kroncong)
9. Katik Ngangg Ngirik (langgam Java)
10. Dangdut medley
11. Ing Ing (langgam Java)
12. Impengu Dek Bengi Kai (langam Java)
13. Ronggeng One
14. Ronggeng Two
15. Kuda Lumping (village possession dance)
16. Gambir Sawit (kerawitan)

Various street singers and musicians perform pieces in the great tradition of Javanese folk music. Although these are rough, unpolished songs, in Javanese, they are interesting pieces which charmingly evoke the atmosphere of Yogyakarta.