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Song in the Sumatran Highlands

Song: "Kambang Aia Aji"

Alternative Title: "Si Kambang Aia Aji"
Translation of Title: This song title refers to two specific places that are somewhat near each other: nagari Kambang and nagari Aia Aji.

Composer: This tune was adapted to saluang by Syamsimar.
Type of song: Satangah Tiang (Mardjani noted this as ratok)
Place affiliations: This song is affiliated with two places.

Nagari: Aia Aji and Kambang
Kecamatan: Linggo Sari Baganti and Lengayang.
Kabupaten: Pasisia Salatan
Darek or Rantau: Rantau.

Source: Te E's List of Songs, Mardjani's List of Songs.
Description: According to Martis, the theme is similar to both "Banda Sapuluah" and "Palairan," two other songs associated with this region. The batang, the first half of the pantun, usually reference the ocean, water, the beach, the waves, or the beauty in viewing the ocean. The isi reference the feelings around daily life or the sadness of love.

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Repertoire: Sariak Laweh July 25, 2016 20 List of repertoire at Malam Bagurau, Sariak Laweh plain 2021-05-12T19:19:38+00:00
This performance was unique in that of all the malam bagurau attached to weddings that I attended in 2016, it alone involved a mix of musical styles: saluang klasik, the reason I attended, saluang orgen (songs, many of which are from dendang repertoire, accompanied by saluang and synethsizer), and orgen (just a vocalist and synethsizer). If a dendang is performed on saluang orgen or orgen, it is from the gembira category, the synthesizer providing a consistent rhythmic backdrop. The timeline for this performance, therefore, has a few more categories. It represents style first and foremost so the user can appreciate the relative amounts of time in each style. Within the saluang klasik style, dendang are represented by their type. When the songs are performed in the style of saluang orgen or orgen, then the type of song is specified in the description. See the following page for analysis on relative amounts of time on each style and each type of song.
1. Musical Item: Imbauan Saluang
2. Musical Item: Imbauan Singgalang
3. Song: "Singgalang Induak"/ "Singgalang Alai [new"]: nobody identified the title for me so I don't know for sure what to call it, but as Sri was one of the performers and she used the title "Singgalang Induak" for the same tune a few days before, I expect that she would identify the tune that way.
4. Song: Title Unknown
5. Song: "Raimah Tanjuang"
6. Song: "Singgalang Jaya"
7. Song: "Singgalang Singgah"
8. Song: "Danau Indah"
9. Song: "Kawin Batambua"
10. Song: "Pariaman Panjang"
11. Song: "Indang Ramolai"
12. Song: "Pariaman Laweh"
13. Song: "Muaro Cinto"
14. Song: Title Unknown
15. Song: "Indang Sari Lamak"
16. Song: Title Unknown
17. Song: "Indang Sing Guliang"
18. Song: Title Unknown
19. Song: "Sungai Rimbang"
20. Song: "Talago Biru"
21. Song: "Lubuak Sao"
22. Song: "Padang Magek"
23. Song: "Pitaruah Ayah"
24. Song: "Sirompak Taeh"
25. Song: "Koto Tuo Tabek Sarojo"
26. Song: "Suayan Maik Katurun"
27. Song: "Kamang Patah Tigo"
28. Song: "Bukik Apik Randang Kopi"
29. Song: "Pasaman Ilia"
30. Song: "Indang Kurinci"
31. Song: Title Unknown
32. Song: "Lubuak Aluang"
33. Song: "Sungai Pua Manurun"
34. Song: "Tangkerang"
35. Song: Title Unknown
36. Musical Item: Imbauan Saluang
37. Song: "Ampaian Santo"
38. Song: "Kambang Aia Aji"
39. Song: "Koto Tuo Patah Pucuak"
40. Song: "Tigo Balai"
41. Song: "Banda Sapuluah"
42. Item: Talingkin, Song "Simarantang"
43. Song: Title Unknown
44. Song: Title Unknown
45. Song: "Gali-Gali"
46. Song: "Cimpago Biru"
47. Song: Title Unknown
48. Song: "Bujang Marando"
49. Song: "Siriah Langkok"
50. Item: Jalu-Jalu
Repertoire: Sungai Baringin, July 15, 2016 17 List of repertoire at Malam Bagurau, Sungai Baringin plain 2021-06-19T19:13:31+00:00
1. Song: "Bola"
2. Song: "Intan Bajalan Sorang"
3. Song: "Mudiak Suak"
4. Song: "Lubuak Basuang"
5. Song: "Lubuak Sao"
6. Song: "Bayang Salido"
7. Song: "Kabau Punco"
8. Song:"Baburu Babi"
9. Song: "Sungai Pua Manurun"
10. Song: "Bujang Marantau"
11. Song: "Ratok Pasaman"
12. Song: "Indang Parik Rantang"
13. Song: "Koto Tuo Caruak"
14. Song: "Parambahan"
15. Song: "Pariaman Panjang"
16. Item: Talingkin, Song: "Simarantang"
17. Item: Talingkin, Song:"Lintau Buo"
18. Item: Talingkin, Song: "Dayang Daini"
19. Item: "Imbauan Singgalang"
20. Song: "Singgalang Cancang"
21. Song: "Tigo Sapilin"
22. Song: "Sirompak Taeh"
23. Song: "Kambang Aia Aji"
24. Song: "Sijobang"
25. Song: "Tanah Jambi"
26. Song: "Bayua Larai"
27. Song: "Tangkerang"
28. Song: "Biduak Ketek"
29. Song: "Suntiang Patah Batikam"
30. Song: "Lawang Ambun Pagi"
31. Song: "Sariak Mangayam"
32. Song: "Koto Tuo Tabek Sarojo"
33. Song: "Ratok Sari Aji"
34. Song: "Kamang Bakayu"
35. Song: "Solok Manuai"
36. Song: "Tigo Balai"
37. Song: "Bungo Larangan"
38. Song: "Salawat Dulang"
39. Song: "Gadih Tajun Ngarai"
40. Song: "Guguak Maniitik Ameh"
41. Item: Jalu-Jalu
Introduction to Songs Songs--called "dendang" in Minangkabau and "lagu" in Indonesian--are at the heart of saluang. But just what is a song in the context of saluang and how do people talk about them, how do they know and approach them as things in the world? This page provides a basic introduction to help orient you, the user, to the local ways of knowing and thinking about these songs.
What is a song?
What constitutes a song--that is what makes up the DNA of any given song--might be different than your definition. Very few of these songs have identified composers. These songs are identified by title and tune, not by their lyrics. That is because the textual content is not fixed. That content may--and usually does--change from one performance to the next, with padendang drawing on their stock of memorized verses or creating them anew in response to the performance context and interactions with the audience members. Make sure to read song texts for more information. People identify songs largely by their structure, including melodic and rhythmic content. But they also categorize individual songs and group them together based on similarities in a variety of different ways.
Classification of songs
Practitioners and devotees of saluang alike provide a number of categories for classifying songs. These categories provide local ways of knowing the repertoire, ways of interpreting, understanding, learning, appreciating, requesting and otherwise interacting with the songs. The most important ways of knowing and classifying the songs are through type of song and their place affiliations. In presenting individual songs in this site, we engage and use these local systems of knowledge to organize them. It is also important to note that different people might have divergent knowledge about a song's associations, based on their positionality and individualized experiences. The associations presented in this site reflect an identification provided by an individual to me. That doesn't make it necessarily it the "right" interpretation. I think the moments of multiple identifications are more fascinating than the clear cut cases, revealing the way knowledge is differently structured and experienced by individuals.
Classification by type of song
Most practitioners and devotees classify the songs according to one of three song types: ratok (sad songs, literally from the word "lament"), gembira (happy songs) and those in between, satangah tiang (literally "half mast"), which are sometimes described as "half happy" and sometimes as "half sad," depending on who is talking. There are also a large collection of songs from the region called Singgalang. Some people refer to these songs--a very distinctive collection--as a fourth category and others refer to them as a subcategory of ratok.
Classification by function
There are a few songs that are classified according to their function: talingkin (songs sung without saluang in the middle of a performance) and jalu-jalu (the songs used to close a performance).
Classification by place affiliation
Most songs are affiliated with places, identified by performers and devotees as affiliated with either the darek or the rantau, a specific luak or kabupaten, a region (an area that doesn't map neatly onto any one administrative unit), a nagari, or a specific landmark.
Classification by pokok
Tukang saluang (flute players) also classify the songs according to pokok (a system that references how many finger holes are open or closed). This is a more specialized level of knowledge, so we've opted to exclude it for now.
Origin of songs
Most of the songs in the repertoire are considered "klasik," meaning they have been part and parcel of the genre for a very long time. The genre, however, incorporates new material from other genres, both regional Minangkabau practices, such as indang or sijobang, and popular genres, such as regional and national dangdut tunes. It is not clear how long this incorporation of "outside" material has been occurring, but it has been occurring at least since I started tracking songs in 2003-2004. See Songs Imported from Other Genres.
Attribution of Songs
Most of the songs in the repertoire are not attributed to any specific composer. Most of these songs could be considered part of the "klasik" repertoire, composed before the practice of making connections between content and individual ownership. There are some songs, however, that we present here that do have attributed composers, most of whom are well-known padendang (see composers). Practitioners and connoisseurs alike sometimes offer attribution in discussing the songs, but there is not always agreement in that attribution. I expect that is for a number of reasons: not documented in writing, people offering covers and variations, people familiar with the first person to have popular or commercial success with a tune, even if they didn't initially compose the tune. It is sometimes difficult to parse these stories to get to the truth, whatever that may be; instead it is best to consider each claim telling a different kind of truth.
Structure of Songs
Most songs are strophic in form, meaning the melody stays consistent for each verse. There are a handful of songs, for example, "Pariaman Panjang" and "Kambang Aia Aji," that have multiple parts, with each part having a distinct melody. These parts are know as induak (mother) and anak (child). While there is an ideal progression of order through these multi-part songs (say induak, anak, anak), my recordings suggest that order is not always followed. See Songs with Interesting Features.
Song: "Banda Sapuluah" 13 A song named after the place, the confederation of 10 nagari, Banda Sapuluah. plain 2021-07-02T18:11:30+00:00 -1.69337, 100.71026
Translation of Title: This sone is named for a place, Banda Sapuluah. "Banda Sapuluah" literally means "ten harbors," the name for a confederation of ten nagari in Pasisia Salatan.
Composer: Unknown.
Type of song: Satangah Tiang (Mardjani noted this as ratok).

Place affiliations:
- Kabupaten: Pasisia Salatan.
- Darek or Rantau: Rantau.
Source: Te E's List of Songs, Mardjani's List of Songs.
Description: The song is affiliated with the Pasisia Salatan, but was adapted for saluang by Syamsimar. According to Martis, the theme is similar to both "Kambang Aia Aji" and "Palaiaran," two other songs associated with this region. The batang, the first half of the pantun, usually reference the ocean, water, the beach, the waves, or the beauty in viewing the ocean. The isi reference the feelings around daily life or the sadness of love. Mak Lenggang told me that if the theme, "Sawah Liek" ("Dry Rice Field") appears, then it is often within this song.
Songs with Interesting Features 10 List of songs with interesting features plain 2021-08-02T14:29:41+00:00
Songs with Variable Form
Most of the songs within the saluang repertoire are strophic in form. That simply means every verse--in this case every pantun--is set to the same melodic and rhythmic content. There are a few songs, however, that are markedly not. They have sections, labeled locally as "induak" (mother) and "anak" (child). In some cases, like "Pariaman Panjang," there might even be two different anak. When these songs are delivered in performance there is no standardized form, including how many lines of verse in a pantun. There are assumptions about typical structures, but those assumptions do not always manifest in reality. I like to think of it as "mix and match" with building blocks. Part of the diversity happens because singers trade off verses after one pantun, rather than induak and anak. Sometimes the tukang saluang structures the possibilities.

Some songs with sectional structure include:
- "Pariaman Panjang"
- "Pariaman Tangguang"
- "Pariaman Lamo"
- "Banda Sapuluah"
- "Palaiaran"
- "Kambang Aia Aji"
Some songs with variable pantun structure include:
- "Pariaman Panjang"
- "Kambang Aia Aji"
- "Ratok Bonjo"
As I put these lists together, it strikes me that all of these songs with variable structure, whether using sections or in pantun length, are from the rantau, inspired by musical practices there and/or imported into the saluang darek repertoire from the genre of origin. Almost all are from the pasisia (coastal) regions, whether that be Padang Pariaman or Pasisia Salatan.
Repertoire: Batu Balang, July 17, 2016 9 List of repertoire at Malam Bagurau, Batu Balang plain 2021-06-09T20:03:10+00:00
1. Introductory Material: "Imbauan Saluang"
2. Introductory Material: "Imbauan Singgalang"
3. Song: "Singgalang Patah Tigo"
4. Song: "Pariaman Panjang"
5. Song: "Indang Pariaman"
6. Song: "Basalingkuah"
7. Song: "Pasaman Ilia"
8. Song: "Baso Lamo"
9. Song: "Oyak Ambacang"
10. Song: "Talerek"
11. Song: "Subarang Parik"
12. Song: "Koto Tuo Caruak"
13. Song: "Indopuro"
14. Song: "Ratok Baso"
15. Song: "Kincia Tuo"
16. Song: "Marantau"
17. Song: "Kambang Aia Aji"
18. Song: "Palaraian"
19. Song: "Ratok Sariak"
20. Song: "Muaro Peti"
21. Song: "Cupak Ambiak Lado"
22. Song: "Guguak Manitik Ameh"
23. Song: "Elok Bukik"
24. Song: "Amin Urai"
25. Song: "Ratok Bonjo"
26. Song: "Dawiyah"
27. Song: "Solok Manuai"
Repertoire: Radio Republik Indonesia, September 27, 2004 8 List of Repertoire at Bagurau di Udaro plain 2021-06-22T22:13:39+00:00
1. Musical Item: Imbauan Saluang
2. Musical Item: Imbauan Singgalang
3. Song: Title Unknown
4. Song: "Ramalah Anyuik"
5. Song: "Banda Sapuluah"
6. Song: "Lawang Lamo"
7. Song: "Bujang Marando"
8. Song: "Tigo Baleh Gabalo Itiak"
9. Song: "Kambang Aia Aji"
10. Song: "Ratok Koto Tuo"
11. Song: "Sawah Rawang"
12. Song: "Subarang Parik"
13. Song: "Ratok Singkarak"
14. Song: "Kamari Bedo"
15. Song: "Ense Garendeh"
16. Song: "Cancang Kambiang"
17. Song: "Mudiak Suak"
18. Song: "Sumbar Riau"
19. Song: "Parambahan"
20. Song: "Baso Lamo"
21. Song: "Singgalang Parak Kina"
22. Song: "Saba Mananti"
23. Song: "Aia Tirih"
24. Musical Item: Imbauan Saluang
25. Song: "Sarasah Aia Badarun"
26. Song: "Kamang Basiriah"
27. Song: "Singgalang Alai": this rendition includes both the old version of the song, "Singgalang Alai [Old]", as sung by Mak Ajis St. Sati, and the new version, "Singgalang Alai [New]", as known and subsequently sung by Jennifer Fraser followed by Mak Ajis.
28. Song: "Kamang Baalang-alang"
29. Song: "Pariaman Tangguang"
30. Song: "Lambok Malam"
31. Song: "Suayan Tanahnyo Tinggi"
32. Song: "Ratok Bonjo"
33. Song: "Elo Pukek"
34. Song: "Kapompong"
35. Song: "Lawang Parak Tabu"
36. Song: "Palaiaran"
37. Song: "Sorak Gaduik"
Repertoire: Padang Panjang, January 25, 2004 7 List of repertoire at Malam Bagurau plain 2021-06-19T19:18:10+00:00
1. Musical Item: Imbauan Saluang
2. Musical Item: Imbauan Singgalang
3. Song: "Singgalang Alai [New]": the tune was identified in my notes as "Singgalang Alai." I listened to the recording and worked on lyrics with Martis, who identified the tune in this way.
4. Song: "Arau Lamo"
5. Song: "Lintau Basiang"
6. Song: "Palaiaran"
7. Song: "Arau Babeliang"
8. Song: "Kambang Aia Aji"
9. Song: "Banda Sapuluah"
10. Song: "Ratok Balingka"
11. Song: "Bukak Babek"
12. Suite: Ampek Sajalan, Song #1: "Indang Ramolai"
13. Suite: Ampek Sajalan, Song #2: "Indang Kayutanam"
14. Suite: Ampek Sajalan, Song #3: "Indang Pariaman Laweh"
15. Suite: Ampek Sajalan, Song #4 "Indang Toboh"
16. Song: "Pariaman Lamo"
17. Song: "Ratok Sabu"
Song: "Palaiaran" 6 This title translates as "sea voyage." plain 2021-06-26T23:45:29+00:00
Alternative Title: "Palayaran"
Translation of Title: This title translates as "sea voyage."
Composer: This tune was adapted to saluang by Syamsimar.
Type of song: Satangah Tiang (Mardjani and Martis noted this as a ratok).

Place affiliations:
- Kabupaten: Pasisia Salatan.
- Darek or Rantau: Rantau.
Source: Te E's List of Songs, Mardjani's List of Songs
Description: According to Martis, the theme is similar to both "Banda Sapuluah" and "Kambang Aia Aji," two other songs associated with this region. The batang, the first half of the pantun, usually reference the ocean, water, the beach, the waves, or the beauty in viewing the ocean. The isi reference the feelings around daily life or the sadness of love.

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