Tale about the blend of Batak, Malay ethnic music

By Apriadi Gunawan

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Thousands of people were attending the Batak wedding ceremony at Wisma Nejer in Medan.

Highlighted by pop music group Sopo Nauli, the party turned "chaotic" as the crowd danced to the melodious tunes. Some danced, others hummed, all followed the rhythm of the music.

Lively and vibrant, the people became ecstatic when Solo Nauli played such songs as Kuch Kuch Hota He, Poco-poco, Selayang Pandang and Unang Tinngal Hon. Through a combination that blended unique elements of traditional and modern music, the group gave a splendid rendering of the songs. Though the music itself was lively and melodious, the typical characteristics of Batak music were still dominant.

Marsius Sihotang, 48, the leader of the group, said the blend between the traditional and the modern was not unusual, and commonly practiced by other Batak music groups. The purpose of blending the two elements was to stave off boredom among music lovers. "By so doing we can survive because many people like this kind of music," Marsius said.

He said that such a blend, merely intended for amusement, was not at all against the philosophy of Batak music and was never construed as taboo. The Batak people call this mixture of traditional and modern music Uning-uningan.

Generally speaking, Marsius said, all music in Batak society, particularly when played by an ensemble, has the same concept and purpose. Like Uning-uningan, both Gondang Hasapi and Gondang Sabangunan are used for traditional and religious ceremonies, the difference between the two only lying in the nature of the ceremony; one involving a large crowd normally uses Gondang Sabangunan while for smaller events it is Gondang Hasapi.

More often than not, Gondang is now intended solely for joyous events such as wedding ceremonies, to enliven the atmosphere and please the audience.

A surprising number of Batak people can play the instruments used in making this music. These instruments include the small serunai (a wind instrument with a reed), gerantung (a kind of stringed instrument) and the traditional flute used in Uning- uningan, and the instruments used in Gondang Sabangunan or Gondang Hasapi, such as the taganing, big serunai and gong.

"They play the instruments by ear, without learning any musical theory" Marsius said.

"The Batak people develop their musical talent out of a strong desire. They practice a lot, never minding the errors at first," he said.

And, he said, there are a handful of people, particularly in the Tarutung area, able to play musical instruments really well because of their contact with Western culture during colonial times.

As Muhammad Takri, a lecturer in ethnomusicology at the y University of South Sumatra, put it: "Generally speaking, the Malay and Batak ethnic music derives from the same cultural origin and has undergone the same historical development as well."

He added that cultural influences from Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam were still dominant in these two ethnic groups, and this all happened because the two cultures intermingled through trade, religious missions and colonization.

Backing up Marsius' claim that most Batak people learn to play music by ear, Muhammad pointed to himself as an example. "I play these instruments naturally."

Though he never received a formal education in music, by the age of 15 he was already skillful with the flute. As a shepherd in Samosir and with very little schooling, he spent most of his time playing his flute, eventually becoming a maestro. His prowess propelled him to join the Dos Roha Opera, where he stayed from 1969 to 1981. Unsatisfied with the meager income, he quit and became a pedicab driver.

Out of sheer luck, in 1985 received an offer from the rector of the University of South Sumatra to teach wind instruments in the Department of Ethnomusicology. He jumped at the opportunity.

Since then he has been teaching at the university and has been accorded the title of extraordinary lecturer. His skills, not only with the flute but also with other instruments such as the sarunai, taganing and grantung are impressive. His talent has taken him around the world, including to Amsterdam, Japan, the United States, Australia, Germany and Argentina.

Apart from playing musical instruments, the Batak people are also known as gifted singers. Big names like Victor Hutabarat and Charles Hutagalung testify to this acclaim. According to Marsius, most Batak people pick up singing naturally.