

This article examines the production and dissemination of the lagu Melayu (Malay song), which formed the main repertoire recorded by GC and its sister companies in British Malaya (including Singapore), as well as this music’s style and content. HMV was also known as ‘Chap Anjing’ (Dog Label) in British Malaya (Figure 1). Although a picture of a dog appeared on the labels of some of these early records, it was not until January 1916 that the label name ‘His Master’s Voice’ (HMV) was formally employed.

Until 1915, GC used label names such as the Gramophone Record, Gramophone Concert Record and Gramophone Monarch Record. 2 It is therefore not surprising that the English-based Gramophone Company (GC) was the first to make records in British Malaya in 1903 and dominated record production there until the Second World War. 1 The various companies tended to be most dominant in places where their own country’s colonial interests were strong. Gramophone companies were transnational in the early twentieth century and actively looked for new markets by following the trade routes of the colonial powers. 27, (1995), pp.Keywords: gramophone recordings His Master’s Voice lagu Melayu rooted cosmopolitanism colonial modernity nationalism

Zapin Sentak Kamang ( Padangpanjang, West Sumatra).Zapin Senggayong ( North Kayong, West Kalimantan).Zapin Sengarong ( Sanggau, West Kalimantan).Zapin Rao ( Rao, Pasaman, West Sumatra).Zapin Pisau ( Pontianak, West Kalimantan).Zapin Pintal Tali Sukadana ( West Kalimantan).Zapin Parit Lengkong ( West Kalimantan).Zapin Lenggok Gambus ( Pekan Labuhan, North Sumatra).Zapin Lenggang Banua ( South Kalimantan).Zapin Langkah Simpang ( Pontianak, West Kalimantan).Zapin Langkah Penghibur Pengantin ( West Kalimantan).Zapin Langkah Bujur Serong ( Pontianak, West Kalimantan).Zapin Kuala ( Banjar Kuala, South Kalimantan).Zapin Kipas ( West Kalimantan and Riau).Zapin Kinsat Suara Siam ( North Kalimantan).Zapin Kasih dan Budi ( South Sumatra and Riau).Zapin Eroh ( Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan).Zapin Diang Marindu ( South Kalimantan).Zapin Deli ( Deli Serdang, North Sumatra).Zapin Dana ( Jambi, South Sumatra and Bengkulu).Zapin Bujang Marindu ( South Kalimantan).

