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Writer's pictureKevin Martens Wong

Kantah Kristang: Kantiga di Mundu Rentu & Bersu di Kuartu


After five years and one crazy pandemic, Kantah Kristang is back, with two original compositions ja skribeh prumiru na nus sa linggu mai.


Ja bai na rentu? Have you gone within? Bida mutu tantu trabalu; life has been difficult for everyone around the world, and my journey has been no different, a struggle with my own mental health and the long-term effects of sexual, emotional and institutional abuse. But there has been hope as well, and these two songs are meant to duel with and connect to each other and all of the above, as one would expect in a normal Kristang Mata Kantiga within one song.


KANTIGA DI MUNDU RENTU

Bersu 1:

Kora yo krensa

Jenti impodih intindeh

Kifoi yo sa saiki

ja impoku diferenti kriseh

Tantempu yo nteh palabra

Nteh forsa gadrah onsong

Mistih brigah

Pra mostrah yo sa korsang teng bong


Korus:

Sertu teng midu

Sertu kaminyu lonzi

Sertu fila-filu di mundu tudu pun podih

Sertu teng bergonya

Sertu teng trabalu

Nang asih, fikah pesua

Sertu bai na rentu


Bersu 2:

Kora yo mestri

Studanti impodih kriseh

Kifoi olotu sa saiki

Ngka sabeh klai rakuleh

Prumiru yo nteh amostra

Ngka sabeh klai andah bong

Bagah prendeh

Klai bai buskah tudu sa song


Bersu 3: Kora teng naki

Yo impodih skundeh

Kifoi isti saiki

Ta mutu tantu diferenti kureh

Membes yo nteh speransa

Nadi olah seu

Aguentah!

Isti tudu jenti presizu


Kantiga di Mundu Rentu / Song of the Inner World is dedicated to the first and greatest of all Kodrah Kristang teachers, Mr Bernard Stephen Mesenas (1938-2021).


BERSU DI KUARTU


Kabesa di ila

Komprador bai na mar

Nusenti di lunga

Animu beng di strela


Saiki animu

Saiki birah mundu

Saiki alebah,

alegrah ardansa

Nubu ja chegah

Mistih trukah andasang:

mulera, korpu

saiki kung korasang


Armador gadrah

Beng konselu

Fitiseru kantah

Trukah-trukah diabu

Anju, rejidor

astrang, marineru

Desperadu, jaga

brigador, stranjeru


Mbai

Mbai lonzi

Ja beng

Ja beng berdadi


Saiki kaminyu

Saiki andah nubu

Saiki, impeh

Kriseh, bibeh

Sandeh fogu, ja kemah Mistih buskah fortidang

Mulera, korpu,

saiki kung korasang


Korasang animu

Korasang nubu


Bersu di Kuartu / Verse of the Four is dedicated to my great-grandfather, Mr Frederick Joseph Rowsing Martens (1888-1944), pianist and conductor of the Grand Hotel de l'Europe, Singapore, which formerly was located on the site of today's Singapore National Gallery.

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