Radin Mas – A Princess

of Singapore

By Mini Monsters Limited

Post-show © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

Recall

1. Did you like what you watched?

2. What did you enjoy the most?

3. What did you learn about Radin Mas?

4. Which aspect of Javanese culture did you enjoy the most? Why?

Can you recall…How do you say the following in Javanese?

1. Father

2. Mother

3. Dancer

4. Elder brother

5. Elder sister

6. Good morning

7. Good night

8. Prince

Did you get it right?How do you say the following in Javanese…

1. Father: Romo (pronounced as row-moh)

2. Mother: Kanjeng ibu (pronounced as kaan-jeng ee-boo)

3. Dancer: Penari (pronounced as peh-naa-ree)

4. Elder brother: Kakang or Kangmas (pronounced as kaa-kang or kaang-maas)

5. Elder sister: Mbakyu (pronounced as mm-baak-yoo)

6. Good morning – sugeng enjang (pronounced as soo-geng en-jaang)

7. Good night: sugeng dalu (pronounced as soo-geng daa-loo)

8. Prince – Pangeran (pronounced as paa-ngay-raan)

Answer to Activity 1

No. 1: Kampong Radin Mas (Areas with flats)

No. 2: Makam Puteri Radin Mas Ayu

No. 3: Radin Mas Primary School

Answers Activity 2

• Qn 3: False – Pangeran and his wife, Queen Hina, had a son,Tengku Chik

• Qn 4: False – The Queen hated Radin Mas.

• Qn6: False – Tengku Bagus tricked the Pangeran and trapped him in a well.

• Qn 8:False – Tengku Bagus tried to stab the Pangeran with a keris.

What happened to Radin Mas?

Do you know what happened to Princess Radin Mas Ayu after she

was stabbed by Tengku Bagus?

What happened to Radin Mas?

© The Esplanade Co. Ltd

• After she was killed, her body is believed to be buried in a

shrine found at the foot of Mount Faber hills, which is in

the Telok Blangah estate.

• The shrine is called Makam Puteri Radin Mas Ayu.

• It is also known as Keramat Radin Mas.

Image Source: blog.omy.sg

Makam Puteri Radin Mas Ayu

Makam Puteri Radin Mas

© The Esplanade Co. Ltd

• The shrine is located in an area where Radin Mas used to live.

• The tomb and shrine was built to commemorate her bravery.

• Mr. Zainol Daeng is the unofficial caretaker of the tomb since

his retirement. His great grandfather had worked for the king.

• Nearby Radin Mas’ tomb, is the tomb of her father.

Makam Puteri Radin Mas Ayu

Image Source: blog.omy.sg

Telok Blangah

•Telok Blangah area took on her name and a village settlement

called Kampong Radin Mas was built in the 19th Century.

•One of the oldest kampongs in Singapore.

•Kampong Radin Mas was demolished in the 1970s.

•Many other places in the area are now named after Radin Mas.

Image source: A Village Remembered – Kampong Radin Mas 1800-1973 and streetdirectory.com

Radin Mas is a Javanese princess.

During the show, you would have encountered several Javanese art forms. Can you recall

what they are?

Let’s take a closer look at some of these art forms.

Image Source: A Village Remembered – Kampong Radin Mas 1800-1973

Kuda Kepang

• Can you recall what kuda kepang is?

• Which part of the play did you see a kuda kepang performance?

• Did you enjoy it?

• You will watch a video of a kuda kepang performance. Answer the questions that follow.

Kuda KepangWatch and answer:

*Click on image to play video. Play from start to 3:40 only.

Kuda Kepang

1. List three words to describe the movements of the dancers.

2. Describe the dancers’ costumes. What are the dancers wearing?

Image from: vintagefineartprints.com

Kuda Kepang

3. How would you describe the music?

4. Do you think music is important in a kuda kepang performance? Why?

5. Look closely at the musicians in the background. Can you recognise what type of instruments they are playing?

Kuda Kepang

6. Other than music and dancers, what else would you need to put up a kuda kepang performance?

Image source: tribunnews.com

Answers2. Some kuda kepang dancers wear headpieces called udheng, shawls

around their waists and traditional batik pants. Some put on bells on their feet so that the bells can be heard when the dancers move. Can you hear the bells when the dancers move?

3. Music is usually described as hypnotic. Accept other answers.

4. Yes. Music accompanies the dancers. The music sets the mood of the dance and the dancers’ pace.

5. Accompanied by gamelan music. A gamelan is a musical ensemble from Indonesia, typically from the islands of Bali or Java, featuring a variety of instruments such as metallophones, xylophones, drums and gongs, bamboo flutes, bowed and plucked strings.

6. Wooden horses are needed to complete the performance. Horses are made from woven bamboo and decorated with beads, colourful paint and cloth. Accept other answers.

Wayang Kulit

• Can you recall what wayang kulit is? Share your answer with a friend.

• You will watch a video of a wayang kulit performance. Answer the

questions that follow.

Wayang Kulit

*Click on image to play video.

This video of a wayang kulit performance is from Kelantan, Malaysia.

There are many varieties of wayang kulit in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.

Watch and answer:

Wayang Kulit

1. Listen to the music of the wayang kulit show.

a) Describe the music that you hear. Can you identify any of the instruments in the video?

b) Do you think music is important in a wayang kulit show? Why?

Wayang Kulit

2. In the video, the man you see is a dalang or puppeteer. Do you think it is easy being a dalang? Why?

3. Describe how the puppets look like.

4. Why do you think some of the puppets are brightly coloured even though it is used as a shadow puppet?

Image source: http://prasetya.ub.ac.id/

Wayang Kulit

5. If you want to put up an enjoyable wayang kulit performance, what do you think you might need other than music and puppets?

Image source: djumaidi.files.wordpress.com

Answers:1a. Instruments used: drums, gongs, horn.

1b. Yes, music is important as it is used as an accompaniment to the show. Can you think of other reasons why music is important in a wayang kulit performance?

2. It is not easy being a puppeteer (dalang). A dalang has to:

- sit on the floor cross-legged

- voice each puppet in the story

- direct the music

- dalangs take years to practice their craft. Some start from young.

3. There are intricate patterns /cut-outs around the puppets so that the shapes of the puppets can be seen, puppets are on a stick/rod, some are colourful, figures can be human-like or shaped like an animal. The puppets are traditionally made from buffalo hide and horns.

4. The puppets are brightly coloured so that when light is shone through, the colour can be projected onto the screen. Accept other answers.

5. A light source, a screen to project the puppets, a good story. Accept other answers.

Think-Pair-Share

1. Share 3 things that you learned about wayang kulit.

2. Share 2 things you learn about kuda kepang.

3. Share 1 thing you would like to find out more about on either one of the art forms.

Also, don’t forget to visit the Jendela at the Esplanade for our special visual arts exhibition on local legends,

Tales from Jalan Buang Hoe.

The Jendela is located on level 2, next to the Esplanade

Recital Studio. So pop by the Jendela with your family!

There will be SPECIAL WORKSHOPS &

FREE PERFORMANCES.Find out more about your local myths and legends!

9 & 10 Aug – 2 p.m.

Shadow Puppet Performance

by Jeremy Hiah and invited

artiste, Heri Dono

30 & 31 Aug – 2 p.m. &

A special 1 ½ hour guided tour

of exhibition and narration of all

stories by Jeremy Hiah

TALES FROM JALAN BUANG HOE

Suggested Extension Activity 1 A Wayang Kulit Performance

• In your group, choose your favourite local legend. Create a wayang kulit show to tell the story. Use the method in your student handout (activity 3) to make your shadow puppets.

Suggested Extension Activity 2 Gamelan Music

Gamelan music is another Javanese art form. Find out more about the different instruments you can find in a Javanese gamelan. Share what you have discovered with your friends.