KOMPANG IN MALAYSIA

As everyone acknowledges Malaysia is a unique country where they have fantastic food and lifestyle. Today let me share about an authentic music instrument. It is none other than Kompang. Although it is from Arab but it is heavily used in Malay culture for any official ceremony. It includes weddings, birthday parties and retirement ceremonies.

The kompang is approximately 40cm in diameter, with a narrow circular frame called the balos (made out of the dried wood of the balau tree) that's covered with a goat hide skin on one side (which is the drumhead).

The weight of the Kompang depends on the size of the kompang. Kompang became famous in the 13th century. We can see only boys playing it but it's not wrong for girls learning it. Some girls also still have learning Kompang.

In weddings, boys play Kompang where girls will carry bunga manggar. Kompang not only can be found in instruments shop where else they do sell in online as well.

Kompang is played by using both hands, left and right. One hand holds a kompang, and other beats it continuously. There are three “rentak” (stamps) within the kompang performance, namely “rentak biasa”, “rentak kencet” and “rentak sepulih”. The primary category is that the most categories played during the performance. “Rentak kencet” is that stamp (rentak) that happens within the middle of beating the kompang until the sound suddenly as if stopped. While “rentak sepulih” is played so as to back to the stamp of the primary song.

One group of kompang is split into three small groups that every group features a specific task. The primary group acts as `pembolong` that beats kompang with a particular sound harmoniously. Pembolong`s beating is thought of as a basic beating. The second group acts as `peningkah` or the master who controls the whole musical Cadence and tempo during the performance. and therefore, the last group acts as `penyilang` that completes the “rentak” (stamps) within the whole patterns of kompang sound.

Does the new generation know how to play?

So far still the new generation is also learning to play. Some schools have their own Kompang group which teaches new students. But if you want to learn proper techniques then visit any kompang classes.

Author : Punitha Narayanasamy