Keroncong – Identity transfiguration through time and space

Keroncong developed from the Fado of the Portuguese people who came to Indonesia in search of spices in the 1500s. One story relates to the loss of the Portuguese to the Dutch made them being transported to Batavia as prisoners. There, during their labor-free time, they performed their music (Moresco song). Another story relates the Portuguese sail to the eastern part of Indonesia. Some of them settled in the northeast of Batavia. Their settlement is called Kampung Tugu (village of the Tugu, i.e., the Portuguese). In their settlement, they performed their music in their free time. Ariel William Orah Despite their long history, keroncong gained prominence at the beginning of the 20th century, especially through figures that made it famous and popular: Ismail Marzuki, Gesang, and Kelly Puspito, among others. During its development, it absorbed various musical elements, such as Malay music, Javanese music, etc. In this session, Ariel Orah would like to invite participants to explore the question of : Is keroncong another example of syncretism? Syncretism is typical in Java: an absorption/adaptation of foreign elements into one’s own culture/identity. It absorbs not only European elements but also regional elements (Langgam, Gambang Kromong, Malay song, etc.). What is foreign becomes one’s identity.

0 : 00 : 00

Keroncong developed from the Fado of the Portuguese people who came to Indonesia in search of spices in the 1500s. One story relates to the loss of the Portuguese to the Dutch made them being transported to Batavia as prisoners. There, during their labor-free time, they performed their music (Moresco song). Another story relates the Portuguese sail to the eastern part of Indonesia. Some of them settled in the northeast of Batavia. Their settlement is called Kampung Tugu (village of the Tugu, i.e., the Portuguese). In their settlement, they performed their music in their free time. Ariel William Orah Despite their long history, keroncong gained prominence at the beginning of the 20th century, especially through figures that made it famous and popular: Ismail Marzuki, Gesang, and Kelly Puspito, among others. During its development, it absorbed various musical elements, such as Malay music, Javanese music, etc. In this session, Ariel Orah would like to invite participants to explore the question of : Is keroncong another example of syncretism? Syncretism is typical in Java: an absorption/adaptation of foreign elements into one’s own culture/identity. It absorbs not only European elements but also regional elements (Langgam, Gambang Kromong, Malay song, etc.). What is foreign becomes one’s identity.