Talempong (also known as Cak Lempong in Malaysia) is a traditional musical instrument of the Minangkabau tribe. The shape is almost the same as the bonang instrument in the gamelan device. Talempong can be made of brass, but some are made of wood and stone. Currently talempong of the brass type is more widely used.
Talempong is a circle with a diameter of 15 to 17.5 centimeters, at the bottom there is a hole in it while at the top there is a protruding roundabout with a diameter of five centimeters as a place to be hit. Talempong has different tones. The sound resulted from a pair of wood hitting the surface.
Talempong is usually used to accompany performance or welcoming dances, such as the typical plate dance, the Pas added dance, the Alang Suntiang Pangulu dance and the wave dance. Talempong is also used to sing music to welcome special guests. Talempong plays it requires carefulness starting with the do scale and ending with si. [Citation needed] Talempong is usually performed with an accordion accompaniment, an organ-like musical instrument that is pushed and pulled by the players’ hands. Apart from accordions, instruments such as saluang, gandang, serunai and other traditional Minang instruments are also commonly played with talempong.
In Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, Talempong is known by the name Caklempong. Negeri Sembilan has been visited by the Minangkabau tribe who migrated from West Sumatra in the 15th century AD and the only state in Malaysia that practices the Lareh Bodi Caniago system.
Source: wikipedia
