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Tracy Wong
Tracy Wong Series
Lenggang Kangkung
A simple and catchy tune, suggesting the story of a person moving in a carefree manner like a water spinach dancing by the paddy field or marsh.
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Lenggang Kangkung
2-part treble, percussion (hand drum), opt. flute
Download includes audio pronunciation track.
This simple and catchy tune suggests the story of a person moving leisurely in a carefree manner (lenggang), like a water spinach (kangkung) swaying/dancing by the paddy field or marsh. It goes on to describe their return home from working at the fields only to eat plain rice.
Please contact Tracy Wong (info@tracywongmusic.com) if you have any questions about the music!
Composer’s Notes
“Lenggang Kangkung” is a rhythmic arrangement of a well-known folksong from the Malay archipelago, created for 2-part treble choir, percussion, and claps. This song features simple, catchy, and repetitive melodies. Folksongs from this region are usually lively and festive, introduce new vocabulary and encourage children to sing freely. The lyrics often tells a story or bear advice which are intended for young people, although some are humorously written and are meant to entertain.
“Lenggang Kangkung” suggests the story of a person moving leisurely in a carefree manner (lenggang), like a water spinach (kangkung) swaying/dancing by the paddy field or marsh. It goes on to describe their return home from working at the fields only to eat plain rice. The arrangement features word and vocal play merged with folkloric elements – hints of quartal harmonies and dance-like/swaying rhythmic groove – that are spun through a musically-contemporary lens.
My gratitude to iSing Silicon Valley and their Artistic Directors and Co-Founders, Shane Troll and Jennah Delp, for commissioning me to create this work as part of their 10th Anniversary celebration of their choral organization (Spring 2023). It is an honour to be a part of this meaningful collaboration!
– Tracy Wong, January 2023
Text
Lenggang lenggang kangkung
[lɛŋ gaŋ lɛŋ gaŋ kaŋkʊŋ]
Water spinach swaying/dancing
Kangkung di tepi paya
[kaŋkɔŋ dɪ təpɪ paja]
By the marsh
Balik dari menyabung
[baliˈ darɪ mənjabʊŋ]
Returning home from working at the fields
Makanlah nasi sahaja
[makanlah nasi sahadʒa]
Only to eat plain rice
For the performance of this piece, words with * in the score indicate that singers should sustain on the “ng” consonant instead of a long vowel (eg. lenggang*, kangkung*). This enhances the vocal play element of the piece by creating the vocal representation of pitched percussion instruments (eg. gamelan). Please refer to the composer’s sung recording of this piece.
$2.50 per licensed PDF
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