Download Gambang Kromong

Gambang Kromong known as Betawi ethnic music instruments, Gambang kromong (or written gambang keromong) is a kind of orchestra that combines gamelan with Chinese musical instruments, such as sukong, tehyan, and kongahyan. The term kambang gambang is derived from the names of two percussion instruments, namely gambang and kromong. The beginning of the formation of the gambang kromong orchestra can not be separated from a Chinese community leader who was appointed Dutch (Chinese captain) named Nie Hoe Kong (tenure 1736-1740).

Gambang mine which amounts to 18 pieces, usually made of suangking wood, huru batu, manggarawan or other kind of soft wooden sound when hit. Kromong is usually made of bronze or iron, amounting to 10 pieces (ten pencon). The tone used in the kromong gambang is the Chinese pentatonic scales, often called Chinese salendro or salendro mandalungan. Instruments in the kromong gambang consist of gambang, kromong, gong, drum, flute, kecrek, and sukong, tehyan, or kongahyan as the bearer of melody.
The gambang kromong orchestra is a harmonious blend of indigenous elements with Chinese elements. Physically, the Chinese element looks at the stringed instruments of sukong, tehyan, and kongahyan. The combination of both elements of culture is also visible in the treasury of his songs. In addition to songs that show indigenous traits, such as Dalem (Classical) songs entitled: Centeh Manis Standing, Mas Nona, Ganting Sugar, Semar Gunem, Ganting Sugar, Tanjung Burung, Kula Nun Salah, and Rose Spilled and so on, and songs Sayur (Pop) entitled: Jali-jali, Stambul, Centeh Manis, Surilang, Persi, Balo-balo, Akang Haji, Renggong Buyut, Payung Snapper, Kramat Karem, Onde-onde, Ngunguk Wren, Lenggang Kangkung, Sirih Kuning and many more, there are also songs that are clearly Chinese-style, both the name of the song, the flow of melodies and lyrics, such as Kong Ji Liok, Sip Pat Mo, Poa Si Li Tan, Peh Pan Tau, Cit No Sha, Ma Cun Tay, Cu Te Pan, Cay Cu Teng, Si Si Cay, Lo Fuk Cen, and many others.
The songs that are performed on gambang kromong music are songs that are humorous, full of joy, and sometimes mockery or sarcasm. Her songwriting is sung in rotation between men and women as opposed to her.

Gambang kromong is Betawi music which is the most distributed in Betawi culture area, either in DKI Jakarta area or in the surrounding area (Jabotabek). If there are more peranakan Chinese in the local Betawi community, there are more gang kromong orchestra groups. In North Jakarta and West Jakarta, for example, there are more gambang kromong groups than in South Jakarta and East Jakarta.
Today there is also the term "combination kromong gambang". Combination of kromong combinations is a gambang kromong orchestra whose tools are added or combined with modern Western musical instruments such as melodic guitar, bass, guitar, organ, saxophone, drums and so on, resulting in a change from the pentatonic barrel to diatonic without disturbing. It does not diminish the peculiarities of the kromong itself, and the songs played are fair and not forced.

Below you can download some of Gambang Kromong songs here :
1. Balo-Balo
2. Cente Manis
3. Kicir-Kicir
4. Kue Pepe Diloyangin
5. Ondel-Ondel
6. Rokok Kretek
7. Sayur Asem
8. Si Jali-Jali
9. Si Jampang
10. Sirih Kuning
11. Stambul
12. Surilang