Sumatra: Batak Music

various artists compilation - Sumatra: Batak Music

Instruments used:

tracks 1-2: 2 drums, oboe (sarunei), 2 gongs

tracks 3-6: 6 tuned drums, oboe (sarune), 4 gongs, metal plate

tracks 7-12: 2 clarinets, flute, 2 lutes, xylophone, metal plate

tracks 13-14: 7 tuned drums, oboe (sarunei), 4 gongs

tracks 15-16: 2 drums, oboe (sarunei), 4 gongs

Excerpts from the liner notes:

The magnificent landscapes in northern Sumatra, around Lake Toba, are the homeland of the Batak people. These include the Toba, the Karo, the Simalungun, the Pakpak, the Angkola and the Mandailing. The Karo live to the north of Lake Toba, the Pakpak to the west and northwest, and the Simalungun to the east, between Pematang Siantar and the lake; while the Toba, who are the most numerous, have settled in two groups: one around the southern half of the lake, and the other on the large island, Samosir, in the middle of the lake. Further south are the Angkota/Mandailing.

.....

The instrumental music is called gondang (Toba), gendang (Karo) or gonrang (Simalungun), all these terms derived from Malay gendang: <>. In terms of rhythmic structure, gondang music belongs to one of the most complex musical genres of Southeast Asia. The acoustic conception of these pieces, intended to be played outdoors, is based on a combination of drums, gongs, and an oboe called sarune (Toba) or sarunei (Karo, Simalungun). In the other Malay regions, this combination was a part of the representation of traditional power. The differences in gondang sarune music among the various Batak groups may be seen mainly in the number of drums and gongs, as well as in the nature and size of the instruments. Thus, the Karo people use the smallest oboe model (approximately 10 to 12 inches long), the Toba possess the largest model of the oboe (measuring 25 to 27 inches long), and the Simalungun have the narrowest.

Along with these quite official groups, there also exists a simpler form of this music, generally played at home with string instruments (substituted for the gongs, from the point of view of musical structure) and other instruments such as the xylophone, flutes and clarinets (gondang hasapi).

Tracklisting:

1. Gendang Lima Sedalanen - Music for Adat Festivals {12:14}

2. Gendang Lima Sedalanen - Ceremonial Music with a Guru Sibaso {6:57}

3. Gondang Sabangunan - Gondang Bane Bulan {2:33}

4. Gondang Sabangunan - Gondang Si Boru Uluan {3:19}

5. Gondang Sabangunan - Gondang Pangelek-elek ni jujungan ro {7:47}

6. Gondang Sabangunan - Gondang Marundur-undur {5:01}

7. Gondang Hasapi - Gondang Debata Sori {2:11}

8. Gondang Hasapi - Gondang Lahat-lahat ni horbo {3:17}

9. Gondang Hasapi - Gondang Sikklan tali {2:56}

10. Gondang Hasapi - Gondang Situan Gading {4:25}

11. Gondang Hasapi - Andung-andung parsirangan {6:19}

12. Gondang Hasapi - Gondang Sigarar jambar {3:50}

13. Gonrang Sipitu-Pitu - Imbou manibung {3:04}

14. Gonrang Sipitu-Pitu - Boniala sahala gual {1:56}

15. Gonrang Sidua-Dua - Sayur matua (funeral music) {3:06}

16. Gonrang Sidua-Dua - Haro-haro {2:13}

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