Song in the Sumatran HighlandsMain MenuGetting OrientedThis page provides an introduction to the projectSongsTitle pagePlacesTitle pagePeoplePerformancesTitle pageModulesThis section provides modules focused on specific topicsGlossaryList of terms used throughout the projectReferencesList of bibliographic and discographic resources referenced in this projectTechnical NotesPathway explaining some technical decisionsProject TeamList of contributors and their roles within the project.AcknowledgmentsPage with AcknowledgmentsLicense, Citation & UseHow to use and cite the material found in this site.
Place: Padang Panjang
1media/Image_Padang Panjang Market.jpegmedia/Image_Pesantran Terpadu Serambi Mekkah.jpeg2020-08-06T19:02:03+00:00Jennifer Fraser404477000adfd4e5c7a1128cfac82e1fc740e8c3211Padang Panjang is the first town in the highlands coming up the road from Padang to Bukittinggi.google_maps2021-09-09T00:34:27+00:00-0.46375, 100.39922Jennifer Fraser404477000adfd4e5c7a1128cfac82e1fc740e8c3Padang Panjang, situated at 2,500ft, is the first town in the highlands coming through the mountain pass on the road from Padang to Bukittinggi. Nestled in between Mt. Singgalang and Mt. Marapi, Padang Panjang is home to the Institut Seni Indonesia (Institute of Indonesian Arts) and was Jennifer's home base for 2+ years from 1998-9, when she was a student at Institut Seni Indonesian (then called ASKI), and 2003-4 when she was conducting dissertation research.
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12020-07-09T19:00:10+00:00Jennifer Fraser404477000adfd4e5c7a1128cfac82e1fc740e8c3Mapping SaluangJennifer Fraser19This map provides a listing of all the places connected with saluang in some way.google_maps2021-06-23T12:21:19+00:00Jennifer Fraser404477000adfd4e5c7a1128cfac82e1fc740e8c3
12021-04-29T12:53:12+00:00Jennifer Fraser404477000adfd4e5c7a1128cfac82e1fc740e8c3Mapping PerformancesJennifer Fraser4This map illustrates the locations of performances attendedgoogle_maps2021-04-29T14:00:39+00:00Jennifer Fraser404477000adfd4e5c7a1128cfac82e1fc740e8c3
Contents of this tag:
12020-08-06T19:02:03+00:00Jennifer Fraser404477000adfd4e5c7a1128cfac82e1fc740e8c3Place: Silaing10Silaing is an area of the town of Padang Panjang.google_maps2020-09-22T18:53:59+00:00-0.46723, 100.37926Gabriela Linares93b11788b420aa18884831bc41dd62cbbe2edd8b
12020-09-16T18:56:13+00:00Jennifer Fraser404477000adfd4e5c7a1128cfac82e1fc740e8c3Place: Institut Seni Indonesia, Padang Panjang8The institution currently known as Institut Seni Indonesia, Padang Panjang, or ISI, for short.google_maps2020-09-16T19:28:57+00:00-0.458997,100.403908Jennifer Fraser404477000adfd4e5c7a1128cfac82e1fc740e8c3
12020-08-06T19:02:02+00:00Jennifer Fraser404477000adfd4e5c7a1128cfac82e1fc740e8c3Place: Gunuang7Gunuang is an area of Padang Panjang that lies at the foothill of Mount Marapi.google_maps2021-03-10T02:44:44+00:00-0.46273, 100.42273Jennifer Fraser404477000adfd4e5c7a1128cfac82e1fc740e8c3
12020-11-16T12:52:56+00:00Jennifer Fraser404477000adfd4e5c7a1128cfac82e1fc740e8c3Place: Kampung Jambak5Kampung Jambakgoogle_maps2020-12-08T01:37:34+00:00-0.45938, 100.40413Jennifer Fraser404477000adfd4e5c7a1128cfac82e1fc740e8c3
12021-02-22T13:07:14+00:00Jennifer Fraser404477000adfd4e5c7a1128cfac82e1fc740e8c3Place: Lubuak Matokuciang1Lubuak Mato Kuciang is an area of Padang Panjanggoogle_maps2021-02-22T13:07:14+00:00-0.455872, 100.396906Jennifer Fraser404477000adfd4e5c7a1128cfac82e1fc740e8c3
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1media/Image_Saluang dangdut.JPGmedia/Image_Saluang dangdut.JPG2020-10-31T12:19:18+00:00Performance: Padang Panjang, April 10, 200414Saluang dangdut for baralekimage_header2021-09-03T20:41:55+00:00-0.466270, 100.40717404/10/2004Date: April 10, 2004 Time: around noon Place:Padang Panjang Style: Saluang Dangdut Occasion: Wedding. This performance took place at a wedding during the main celebration during the day. As Martis told me in advance of the event, it is "entertainment to greet the guests." The hosts for this particular event were related to famous padendang, Syamsimar. This might help explain why the hosts chose saluang dangdut for the daytime celebration rather than more common popular styles.
Set up: A full stage was erected in the yard of a house across the street from the host's house. A canopy was also erected stretching across the two spaces. Part of it housed the team welcoming guests. The other part covered tables and chairs where guests would sit to eat.
Performers:
Padendang:
Invited participants (those on stage for the duration)
An (Adrial), who is now a professional singer by the name of Lepai
Yeli Indriati
Nengsih
Ati
Len, who was also playing tambourine
Fera (who had just started learning and did not participate much)
Guest participants (those on stage for a few songs)
Syamsimar
Asnah, daughter from Syamsimar's older sibling
Hutmawati, daughter from Syamsimar's younger sibling
Tukang Saluang
Martis
Mak Indo
Other Instrumentalists
An (Adrial): he played the gendang dangdut in addition to singing
As: who played the rabano, or drum known as gendang oyak
Janang
Nobody officially filled this role, meaning it was their sole duty, but some of the singers participated to make announcements.
Audience: Nobody attended just to listen to the music. They were there as wedding guests: the music was the entertainment. Ethnographers: Jennifer Attendance: Notes:
1media/Image_Singgalang from ISI.jpeg2020-08-21T12:05:02+00:00Introduction to Place12Introduction to Placeimage_header2022-02-08T03:45:06+00:00Place--where one is situated, where one lives, works and travels--governs people's experience. Much of my time in the highlands of West Sumatra has been spent in the highland town of Padang Panjang, surrounded by the peaks of Mt. Tandikek and Mt. Singgalang to the northeast and Mt. Marapi to the northwest. Often, those mountains were covered in cloud, but when the peaks were revealed, I reveled in their beauty. Many Minangkabau people experience these mountains on a regular basis but their experiences are likely structured by different views, such as living in Koto Baru directly between them or in Bukittinggi where they are located to the south. My experience, my knowledge of Mt. Singgalang is specific to my location.
The experience of place in West Sumatra, as anywhere, is condition by personal experience, collection of places lived or traveled over a lifetime, the visits to see people or performances located in specific places, and the roads traveled to get there.
To help you, the user, get a sense of the place where this music lives, we've provided several tools.
The first is two-dimensional maps that present a sense of the boundedness of places, where one places begins and another ends.
The second is interactive google maps where you, as the user, can choose your view. You can zoom in or out, to see where a named place is situated. You can choose your view, toggling between "Map" and "Satellite" views, between "Streetview" and "Terrain" within maps, and with and without labels in "Satellite" view. My personal favorite is "Terrain" view because it gives you the best sense of the lay of the land, of the topography, which in the mountainous highlands is really important.
The third is images of places, where possible. We've opted to use images where authorship has been guaranteed, either my own or from family and friends who have traveled to experience this place I've called home. When you click on the page for a place, any associated images will be included there. For example, click on the link to go to the page for Padang Panjang, the place at the center of the google maps above.
1media/Image_Santan badendang.JPG2020-11-20T11:29:28+00:00People: Man PP11Man PP is a tukang saluang.image_header2021-06-24T00:16:08+00:00-0.46375, 100.39922Stage Name: Man PP (Man Padang Panjang). His stage name includes an assertion to place affiliation, the town of Padang Panjang. Other Names: Role: Tukang Saluang. Time Frame: Contemporary Figure Source: personal encounter at performance in 2016, but he remembered me from events at RRI in 2004. Sex: Male. Born: Died: Place of Origin: Padang Panjang. Place of Residence: Year started performing: Training: Relationships to other performers: Performances:
Performance: Suayan, July 29, 2016.
Songs composed: Recordings: Other notes:
12020-08-05T13:42:56+00:00Song: "Pandakian Silaing"3This song is affiliated with the place, the region of Padang Panjang called Silaing.plain2020-11-07T16:05:36+00:00Alternative Title: Probably "Singgalang Pandakian Silaing" as it is one of only two songs Mardjani lists as a Ratok Singgalang. Translation of Title: "Pandakian" can mean "1 ascent, climbing. 2 pass (in mountains). 3 slope, incline, rise." In this context, it likely means the slopes of Batagak, so the song is connected with the place, the area of Padang Panjang called Silaing, which is nestled on the slopes of the mountainous pass coming up from the coastal plain. Composer: Unknown. Type of song: Ratok. Place affiliations: Silaing is an area of Padang Panjang.
12020-09-16T18:56:13+00:00Place: Institut Seni Indonesia, Padang Panjang8The institution currently known as Institut Seni Indonesia, Padang Panjang, or ISI, for short.google_maps2020-09-16T19:28:57+00:00-0.458997,100.403908
12020-07-10T12:16:33+00:00Place: Mount Marapi5Mount Marapi, literally "mountain of fire," is an active volcano situated in the highlands of West Sumatra.google_maps2020-09-22T16:57:11+00:00-0.37999, 100.47416
1media/Image_Singgalang from ISI.jpeg2020-07-10T12:16:33+00:00Place: Mount Singgalang4Mount Singgalang is an extinct volcano situated in the highlands of West Sumatra.google_maps2020-11-04T21:15:17+00:00-0.39, 100.33083
