Cosmopolitan identities: evolving musical cultures of the Straits-born Chinese of pre-World War II Malaya

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe Straits Chinese were local-born Chinese who formed an influential class of businessmen providing the connection between the British and the Malays in the colonial port cities of pre-World War II Malaya. Based on analyses of newspaper reports of their theatre and music prior to the War, selected 78 rpm recordings and printed scores, this article shows that the Straits Chinese adopted a type of vernacular cosmopolitan identity that was transnational. This identity emerged from their interactions with the diverse peoples, social transformations and ideas about social reform in the port cities, but was meanwhile rooted in Chinese values and customs. The Straits Chinese created new eclectic musical forms such as kronchong, dondang sayang, ronggeng, minstrel music and Malay opera, which combined Malay, Chinese and European elements, and staged cosmopolitan ideals of morality and reformism influenced by their English education. By so doing, they were more inclusive of other ethnic groups and cultures compared with the China-born Chinese in the pre-World War II era.