MUSIC OF COMMUNITIES

Penang has often been called a melting pot, and the convergence of the many cultures that called Penang home has given birth to one of a kind interpretations of art forms and dances like the bangsawan, boria, ronggeng, puppet theatre, Chinese opera, Dondang Sayang and many others!

1940s - 1950s

The 1940s and 1950s were hugely important in defining the nature of Penang's music, and in this section of the exhibition, we chart the influence of the Japanese occupation and the return of the British forces. Music from the communities vied with the more popular Western hits, particularly during the Malayan Emergency. Venues reflected this diversity as did the increasing-popular radio, and this is when Penang musicians were seen to be at the forefront of musicianship in the country.

1960s

The 1960s was the era of the electric guitar and kugiran bands playing Pop Yeh Yeh, with Talentimes and dance crazes dominating the scene. Film, radio, and the new television signaled the commercial popularity of pop music, and this exposure of Western pop culture saw its influences further seep into Penang's local music, whose musicians continued their well-earned reputation for quality and started venturing further afield.