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PERSEMBAHAN TUMBUK KALANG
Badan Kebudayaan Dan Kesenian Dun Gemencheh
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Introduction and history
Tumbuk Kalang is an extraordinary heritage music of Negeri Sembilan. It used to be a popular folk game in Tampin, Inas, Gunung Pasir and Rembau, Negeri Sembilan.
Tumbuk means pound (or thump), thus the name of the music. In particular, the music uniquely comes from the rhythmic sound when the farmers pound the paddy grain to get rice. During the harvest season, after working hard in the day, the farmers gather on the moonlit night to pound the paddy grain. The pounding of the grain in wooden mortars produce enjoyable rhythmic thumps. The thumping sounds, resonating far in the night, tranquillizingly, helps the hard work of farming turn into a fun game with unusual music. Along, their favourite songs such as Tumbuk Emping, Kuda Berontak, Petang-petang and Gogar Babang are rhymed.
Tumbuk Kalang is played in social and cultural events in Negeri Sembilan.
This soothing tumbuk kalang, a traditional music of Negeri Sembilan, should remain a cultural heritage of the state and be recognized internationally.
When performing, the artists wear traditional Negeri Sembilan clothes, where the ladies wear the Baju Kebaya Setengah Tiang, and men, the Baju Melayu and headgear.
To play, one needs wooden mortars and pestles, made of hard and durable merbau or halban wood. These wood produce strong and vibrant thumping sounds when the mortars are struck.
There are four types of thumps that generates those rythamic sounds. First, the thump on the left end of the mortar is called mencincang, whose sound is constant and singly (one-by-one). While the pounding on the right end, which is not constant, is called manganak or mengkah. Pounding on the left or right side of the mortar is mengibu, which is most important as it determines the songs to be played. While the fourth are the thumps in the hole or edge of the mortar, the keriket, which are to refine the melody, making it easy to the ear.
Tuan Haji Bahari Bin Silong is the Tumbuk Kalang figure. He was the recipient of the 2016 JKKN Cultural Arts Employee Award, Negeri Sembilan. Having more than 50 years of experience in Negeri Sembilan traditional music, at present he is reference for school and university students.
Reference Source
i. Bahan Bacaan
ii. Tokoh: Tuan Haji Bahari Bin Silong
Location
State JKKN Contact Information
Rosdianah binti Roman
Cultural Officer
Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara, Negeri Sembilan
Kompleks JKKN Negeri Sembilan
Jalan Sungai Ujong
70200 Seremban
NEGERI SEMBILAN DARUL KHUSUS
06-767 6793/763 6308 / 761 0593
