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Song in the Sumatran Highlands

People: Zaidir SK

Stage Name: Zaidir SK (SK stands for Sutan Kayo, an adat title)
Other Names: Zaidir Sutan Kayo.
Role: Tukang Saluang.
Sex: Male.
Time Frame: Historical Figure
Source: personal encounter in 2004 and 2016.
Born:1943 (Mardjani et al. 1988:390).
Died: unknown.
Place of Origin: Parik Putuih, Kec. IV Angkek Canduang, Agam (Mardjani et al. 1988:390)
Place of Residence:
Year started performing:
Training: He studied under Pak Idi, a tukang saluang from Bukik Apik.
Relationships to other performers:
Performances:
Songs composed:
Recordings: Night Music of West Sumatra.
Other notes:

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Rendition: "Padang Magek" on Night Music of West Sumatra 14 "Padang Magek" on Night Music of West Sumatra plain 2021-04-14T15:51:44+00:00
Song: "Padang Magek"
Performance: Night Music of West Sumatra. Recorded in a private home in Kabupaten Agam.
Date: Recorded 9-10 September 1992; published 1994.
People:
- Padendang:
  - Mak Sawir
  - Nurasni
- Tukang Saluang: Zaidir SK
Find an excerpt of the track below, which starts at the isi of the second pantun with Nurasni:

Lyrics
Here the black font represents delivery by a single padendang, while the text in red is where the two padendang join together. This collective singing is remarkable for two reasons. The first is the perfect coordination of text, especially the vocables (marked in bold font) and ornamentation, between the two singers. I know from interviewing Mak Sawir that when he made recordings, he wrote the lyrics out in advance and shared them with his co-singer (interview, Mak Sawir, 2010). It's not clear whether this includes the vocables or that the padendang who joins on the repeat of the line made sure to replicate them exactly.

The other is that I have never heard another rendition of "Padang Magek" quite like this, but the rendition at a performance in Suayan comes close. Structurally, it is similar but the use of just one microphone shared between the two padendang makes it harder to hear when--or even if--they are singing in a duet.

Note that in this song each line of the pantun is repeated (indicated below with the use of "()"), often with vocables inserted or certain syllables extended to fit the melodic line. Each half pantun is just two lines of text, but this tune requires four different melodic lines.
Pantun 1: Mak Sawir
Batang
Minangkabau
Lah masak padi Padang Magek
(Mak lah masak padi Padang Magek)
Lah di tuai anak lah tuan oi ondeh lah mudo-mudo
(Lah di tuai anak lah tuan oi ondeh lah mudo-mudo)

English
The rice of Padang Magek has ripened,
Already harvested by the young children
Isi
Minangkabau
Kasiah sayang mintak dijawek
(mak kasiah sayang mintak dijawek)
Lah ko lai di dalam lah tuan oi ondeh lah hati juo
(Lah ko lai di dalam lah tuan oi ondeh lai hati juo)

English
Feelings of love, l ask that you accept
them in your heart.
Interpretation of Pantun 1
Batang: The batang is descriptive about rice being ripe and ready for harvest. Note that the place for which the tune is named is mentioned in first line.
Isi: the isi is a romantic text, with a touch of advice.
Pantun 2: Nurasni
Batang
Minangkabau
Lah masak padi lah Padang Magek
(Lah masak padi lah Padang Magek)
Lah manguniang iyo ondeh lah tuan oi lah daun tuonyo
(Lah manguniang ondeh lah tuan oi lah daun tuonyo)

English
The rice of Padang Magek has ripened,
The old leaves are already yellow.
Isi
Minangkabau
Tuan tagamang lai bajawek
(Lah tuan tagamang lai bajawek)
Denai tagamang lah tuan ai yo ondeh lah jatuah sajo
(Denai tagamang lah tuan ai yo ondeh lah jatuah sajo)

English
lf you are about to fall, I catch you,
but if I am about to fall, you let me drop.
Interpretation of Pantun 2
Batang: The batang is another one about rice being ripe and ready for harvest. Note that the place is mentioned again.
Isi: this isi is advice: treat others like you are treated.
Raun Saluang

Pantun 3: Mak Sawir
Batang
Minangkabau
Kalam bakabuik Bukik Kaluang
(Mak kalam bakabuik Bukik Kaluang)
Tampak nan dari lah tuan oi ondeh lah Kampuang Lambah
(Tampak nan dari lah tuan oi ondeh lah Kampuang Lambah)

English
Bukik Kaluang (probably the name of a hill) is dark and covered with fog
Evident from Kampung Lambah
Isi
Minangkabau
Bapasan denai ka nan kanduang
(Lah bapasan denai ka nan kanduang)
Janji nan dulu lah tuan oi ondeh lah jan diubah
(Lah janji nan dulu lah tuan oi ondeh lah jan diubah)

English
My message to my sweetheart is,
don't go back on your promise.
Interpretation of Pantun 3
Batang: The batang is another descriptive one about a hill covered in fog. Specific places are mentioned here but it is unclear if they are near Padang Magek. I think "Bukit Kaluang" might be the nickname for a local hill. I could not find it on google maps.
Isi: The message is clear: don't break promises.
Pantun 4: Nurasni
Batang
Minangkabau
Kaparak batuang den sandakan
(Kaparak batuang den sandakan)
Kajalan urang lah tuan oi ondeh lah taniayo
(Lah kajalan urang lah tuan oi ondeh lah taniayo)

English
To the grove of big bamboo I stand myself
To the road of people oppressed.
Isi
Minangkabau
Ka tuan untuang disandakan
(Ka tuan untuang disandakan)
Lah indak nan kontan lah tuan oi ondeh lah surang juo
(Lah indak nan kontan nan kanduang oi ondeh lah surang juo)

English
l have to rely on you,
I have no brothers.
Interpretation of Pantun 4
Batang: The batang uses references from nature, including going to a grove of giant bamboo and using it to buttress oneself.
Isi: Another clear moralistic message: "You need to be there for me, because I am without family."

Source: The lyrics, including the vocables, are from the supplemental liner notes (pp 2-3). The Minang texts were transcribe by Hanefi.

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