This is a record of two Baba Malay songs. The first, “Serunai besar,” would have been played during the wedding and refers to a peranakan musical ensemble which also uses a gong, The second song, “Pasang lilin”, describes the lighting of candles during the Chiu Thau or coming of age ceremony of a Peranakan wedding. This record was used by the donor’s father during the traditional Peranakan Chinese weddings of his extended family.Songs in Malay were popular among Peranakan Chinese who primarily spoke Baba Malay, a dialect of the Malay language which incorporates Hokkien terms and phrases. They are indicative of the assimilation of Peranakan Chinese to the indigenous population of the region by adapting their language.
