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Song in the Sumatran Highlands

Place: Limopuluah Koto

Limopuluah Koto (50 Koto for short) is one of the three luak, central regions of the darek (Minangkabau homeland). It is also the name for a kabupaten in contemporary Indonesian administrative terms.

Limopuluah Koto was the last of the three luak established. "50 Koto" literally means "50 villages," so it's the area with 50 villages.

One origin myth relates the story that fifty people set out from Tanah Data to search for new lands: one stopped elsewhere on the way, so in the end there were actually fewer than fifty villages established.

Source: Usman, Abdul Kadir. 2002. Kamus Umum Bahasa Minangkabau Indonesia. Padang: Anggrek Media.

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Contexts for Saluang Performance 9 This page explains various contextual factors for saluang performances image_header 2021-09-02T01:09:26+00:00
This page outlines a range of contextual factors that all have a hand in shaping the way a performance unfolds.
What
Saluang performances are held in association with a wide variety of events, ranging from events hosted by families to those hosted by communities or institutions. All the events at which saluang is found have a celebratory nature: the music enhances a sense of festivity and sociability.
- Life cycle events, especially weddings and circumcisions
- Community celebrations, such as fundraisers, halal-bihalal
- Bagurau Lapiak
When
Saluang performances are more common at certain times of the year than others. While Indonesia adheres to the Gregorian calendar for official business, the Islamic calendar equally structures the passage of time in Minangkabau society. Saluang performances won't be found at all during the holy month of Ramadan, when it is not appropriate to hold celebrations of any kind. As the most popular time for weddings and circumcisions is the month following Ramadan, saluang performances are the most frequent then. Jennifer deliberately designed her plan for fieldwork around this calendar. The patina of religiosity lingers through Lebaran and in the week or two afterwards, which does have some influence on the participation in and modesty at saluang performances. Finally, families and communities hosting events might give some consideration to season, whether it is the rainy or dry season. The dry season is better for hosting events held outside with strong attendance. The weather, however, has been less predictable with climate change. In summary, the following are important temporal factors that structure the ways events unfold:
- The year: performances were different in 2003-2004 vs. 2015-2016
- The month, particularly according to the Islamic calendar
- The season: dry or wet, which will affect people's ability to travel.
Where
Saluang performances occur wherever there is a sizable Minang population. The location where an event is held is very influential on the way an event will unfold, in part structuring to some extent the performers who are invited and the pagurau who attend, but also for the repertoire that might be requested. Historically, Bukittinggi was considered the "center" for saluang, with many performers in residence there. Over time, however, Payokumbuah became the center: many performers are now located in or near Payokumbuah.

The broadest distinction with regard to location is between events held in the darek vs. the rantau, including areas of the rantau beyond the borders of West Sumatra. The specific luak is another factor, as is the specific nagari, particularly if there are songs affiliated with it. A performance held in Luak Agam is likely to have some differences from one held in Luak Limo Puluah Koto. Both will have differences from a performance held in areas of the rantau, such as Solok or Pasaman. Those performances held beyond the province would be different yet again. The best singers, like Te E, have stories of traveling to neighboring provinces in Sumatra, including Riau, Jambi, Bengkulu, North Sumatra; to Jakarta and other parts of Java; and to parts of Malaysia. I've never attended a saluang performance in the rantau so I can't speak to how they are structured, but I wonder if people don't request the most classic songs, the songs closely associated with their hometowns. Finally, events held in urban centers are likely different from those in more rural locales. This factor is probably most influential on the participants, generating greater attendance closer to population centers. But it is not the only consideration. If a very famous singer will be singing in a more rural location, like Te E in Suayan (about 2 hours one direction by motorbike from Payokumbuah), pacandu are willing to travel.

Another factor that plays into the way performances unfold are the physical spaces in which they are located. There is a difference if they are held in a home or in a communal space, the inside of a house or in the yard. When they are held in communal spaces, are these regular gathering spaces for community events, a public marker, a specially-built cafe or road side stall? Are the guests seated at tables and chairs, on rows of chairs, mats on the floor, or must they stand?
Who
Who is hosting a saluang performance has a strong hand in shaping it, including the choice of performers, the choice of saluang styles, and so on. These factors include whether the host is an individual/ family, a community, or an institution. The economic capital of the host affects the budget for an event, which is turn might affect the style of saluang and the physical set up. The performances with the lowest budget, for example, are least likely to have seating or snacks for the pagurau (see Performance: Suayan, August 1, 2015 vs. Performance: Batu Balang, July 17, 20160. The religious values of the hosts--the relative piety--will affect the presence or absence of porno lyrics. The performers and pagurau will be more modest if they know a host is more devout. If a host is a known pacandu, then the event will be of a different quality, have different songs, and/or different interactions between performers and pagurau or among pagurau than if the host is less familiar with the scene.
Economics of performance
How a performance is structured relatively to economics shapes its structure. The most important distinction here is whether
- Performers are contracted in advance for the event: they are paid some uang muka ("face money," an advance) at the time they are contracted and the remainder at the performance. This can be the case even if the performance is functioning as a fundraiser, where all funds contributed for the honor of making requests goes to the designated cause.
- Performers need to generate their own income, working for tips and a share of the evening's takings (see bagurau lapiak).
Summary
In short, each event is completely unique and the conditions are not replicable.
Song: "Baliak" 8 This song is affiliated with the place, the nagari Tanjuang Baliak. plain 2021-06-29T23:43:47+00:00
Composer: Unknown.
Type of song: Ratok.
Place affiliations:
- Luak: Limopuluah Koto.
- Darek or Rantau: Darek.
Source: Mardjani's List of Songs.
Song: "Bawak" 6 This song is a ratok from Limopuluah Koto. plain 2020-11-07T15:43:58+00:00
Composer: Unknown
Type of song: Ratok.
Place affiliations:
- Luak: Limopuluah Koto.
- Darek or Rantau: Darek.
Source: Mardjani's List of Songs.
Song: "Anak Anden" 6 This title translates as the "Child of Anden." plain 2020-10-15T20:52:36+00:00
Translation of Title: "Child of Anden."
Composer: Unknown.
Type of song: Ratok.
Place affiliations:
- Luak: Limopuluah Koto.
- Darek or Rantau: Darek.
Source: Mardjani's List of Songs.
Song: "Mudiak Languah" 6 This song is a lagu gembira from Limopuluah Koto. plain 2020-12-04T01:12:47+00:00
Translation of Title: "Mudiak" means "to go upstream," "languah" means "mooing or lowing of cattle or waterbuffalo."
Composer: Unknown.
Type of song: Gembira.

Place affiliations:
- Luak: Limopuluah Koto.
- Darek or Rantau: Darek.
Source: Mardjani's List of Songs.
Song: "Batang Tabik" 5 This song is named after the place, a swimming area Batang Tabik. plain 2020-11-07T15:40:58+00:00
Translation of Title: This song is named after the place, a swimming area called Batang Tabik.
Composer: Unknown.
Type of song: Satangah Tiang.
Place affiliations: Batang Tabik is a swimming place located in the nagari of Sungai Kamuyang.
- Nagari: Sungai Kamuyang.
- Luak: Limopuluah Koto.
- Darek or Rantau: Darek.
Source: Te E's List of Songs.
Song: "Simarantang" 5 This song is used as part of Talingkin. plain 2021-08-11T11:28:06+00:00
Translation of Title: "Simarantang" is the name used for randai in the Tiku, a coastal area of Agam.
Explanation: This song is used as part of Talingkin.
Composer: Unknown.
Type of song: Ratok.
Genre of Origin: Randai.
Place affiliations:
- Luak: Limopuluah Koto.
- Darek or Rantau: Darek.
Source: Mardjani's List of Songs.
Song: "Dayang Daini" 5 This song is used as part of Talingkin. plain 2021-04-20T18:45:31+00:00
Translation of Title: "Dayang Daini" is a female character in a kaba, a Minangkabau story.
Composer: Unknown.
Explanation: It is one of the tunes used as part of Talingkin, a suite of songs that are presented without saluang right after a break.
Type of song: Ratok.
Genre of origin: Randai.
Place affiliations:
- Luak: Limopuluah Koto.
- Darek or Rantau: Darek.
Source: Mardjani's List of Songs.
Song: "Rimbo Panjang" 4 This title translates as "Long Forest." plain 2020-12-04T01:03:52+00:00
Translation of Title: "Long Forest"
Composer: Unknown.
Type of song: Gembira.

Place affiliations:
- Luak: Limopuluah Koto.
- Darek or Rantau: Darek.
Source: Mardjani's List of Songs.
Song: "Batu Banyak" 4 This title translates as "Many Stones." plain 2020-10-16T16:08:30+00:00
Translation of Title: "Many Stones."
Composer: Unknown.
Type of song: Ratok.
Place affiliations:
- Luak: Limopuluah Koto.
- Darek or Rantau: Darek.
Source: Mardjani's List of Songs.
Song: "Pariaman" 3 This song is affiliated with the place, city and/or Kabupaten of Pariaman. plain 2020-12-02T00:07:47+00:00
Translation of Title: This song is named for the place, the city of Pariaman.
Composer: Unknown.
Type of song: Ratok.
Genre of origin: Sijobang.
Place affiliations: Despite the name, Mardjani lists the song as affiliated with Luak Limopuluah Koto. In this case, maybe the affiliation has more to do with where it was created.
- Luak: Limopuluah Koto.
- Darek or Rantau: Darek.
Source: Mardjani's List of Songs.
Song: "Mudiak Liki" 3 This song is a lagu gembira from Limopuluah Koto. plain 2020-12-01T23:52:32+00:00
Translation of Title: "Mudiak" means "to go upstream." "Liki" is possibily the short version of the place name, Suliki.
Composer: Unknown.
Type of song: Gembira.
Place affiliations:
- Luak: Limopuluah Koto.
- Darek or Rantau: Darek.
Source: Mardjani's List of Songs.
Song: "Siamang Tagogau" 3 This title translates as "Surprised Gibbons." plain 2020-11-05T01:11:52+00:00
Translation of Title: "Surprised Gibbon"
Composer: Unknown.
Type of song: Ratok.
Place affiliations:
- Luak: Limopuluah Koto.
- Darek or Rantau: Darek.
Source: Mardjani's List of Songs.
Song: "Taluak Rengat" 2 This song is a composition of Ajis St. Sati. plain 2020-11-24T00:26:39+00:00
Translation of Title: TBD.
Composer: Ajis St. Sati.
Type of song:Gembira.
Place affiliations:
- Luak: Limopuluah Koto.
- Darek or Rantau: Darek.
Source: Mardjani's List of Songs.
Song: "Taliok" 2 This song is a ratok from Limopuluah Koto. plain 2020-11-24T00:20:31+00:00
Translation of Title: "Taliok" means "revolting or naueseating."
Composer: Unknown.
Type of song:Ratok.
Place affiliations:
- Luak: Limopuluah Koto.
- Darek or Rantau: Darek.
Source: Mardjani's List of Songs.
Song: "Kayo Delok" 2 This song is a ratok from Limopuluah Koto. plain 2020-10-22T17:16:22+00:00
Translation of Title: TBD.
Composer: Unknown.
Type of song: Ratok.
Place affiliations:
- Luak: Limopuluah Koto.
- Darek or Rantau: Darek.
Source: Mardjani's List of Songs.