Cristão

Music

Kristang music and dance, known as the "Branyok" can be easily mistaken for the Malay "joget", but rather the adoption of western music instruments and musical scales in traditional Malay and Indian orchestras suggest a strong Portuguese influence.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The most popular branyok tune is "Jingkli Nona" which is regarded as the "unofficial" anthem for Portuguese Eurasians in Singapore.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Incidentally, modern Hawaiian music and its instruments, such as the ukelele, were developed by Portuguese immigrants who were the first Europeans to settle there.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Portuguess "fado" music, invented in the 19th century, is not part of the Kristang idiom -cultural links with Portugal were cut off since the arrival of the Dutch. Moreover, the Portuguese obsession with all things "saudade" is neither a feature of Kristang culture as the people have been noted to be rather a joyful bunch.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~