Cikala Le Pong Pong (SSA)

The more accessible SSA edition of Ken Steven’s popular Cikala Le Pong Pong is here! With a true SSA texture throughout, this version preserves the spirit, drive, and colour of the original while making the work far more practical to programme. Divisi appears only momentarily at the very end, where Soprano I divides for the final two notes.

Rooted in a lively North Sumatran folksong traditionally heard at weddings, ceremonies, and cultural celebrations, the piece carries the gentle humour of elders offering guidance to the young, expressed through poetic imagery rather than strictly literal language. The English translation in this edition therefore reflects the expressive spirit of the text, capturing its warmth, tenderness, and social nuance.

Energetic, rhythmically compelling, and now within reach of many more choirs, this SSA release opens the door for wider performance of one of Southeast Asia’s most recognisable folk settings.

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