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Song in the Sumatran Highlands

Song: "Ratok Bonjo"

Alternative Title: "Bonjo"
Translation of Title: "Ratok of Bonjo." This song is named after the place, the region of Bonjo.
Composer: Unknown.
Type of song: Satangah Tiang (Others noted this as ratok.)
Place affiliations: The town of Bonjo.

Kabupaten: Pasaman.
Darek or Rantau: Rantau.

Source: Te E's List of Songs.

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Repertoire: Harau, July 23, 2016 18 List of repertoire at Malam Bagurau, Harau plain 2021-06-28T11:47:02+00:00
1. Song: "Indang Pariaman"
2. Song: "Tigo Sapilin"
3. Song: "Salawat Dulang"
4. Song: "Cancang Pidia"
5. Song: "Baruah Andiang"
6. Introductory Material: Imbauan Saluang
7. Introductory Material: Imbauan Singgalang
8. Song: "Singgalang Jaya"
9. Song: "Singgalang Cancang"
10. Song: "Koto Tuo Tabek Sarojo"
11. Song: "Cupak Ambiak Lado"
12. Song: "Solok Manuai"
13. Song: "Ratok Sianok"
14. Song: "Sirompak Taeh"
15. Song: "Ratok Sianok"
16. Song: "Oyak Ambacang"
17. Song: "Kincia Tuo"
18. Song: "Guguak Manitik Ameh"
19. Song: "Pariaman Panjang"
20. Song: "Tangkerang"
21. Song: "Suayan Balenggek"
22. Song: "Ratok Balingka"
23. Song: "Bonjol Lamo"
24. Song: "Sungai Pua Manurun"
25. Song: "Ratok Sabu"
26. Song: "Ratok Singkarak"
27. Song: "Ratok Sari Aji"
28. Song: "Lawang Sari Bulan
29. "Song: "Ratok Bonjol"
30. Song: "Koto Tuo Caruak"
31. Song: "Bacarai Kasiah"
32. Item: Jalu-Jalu, Song: Title Unknown
33. Item: Jalu-Jalu, Song: "Siti Johari"
Repertoire: Recording Session, February 9, 2004 11 List of Repertoire at Rabab Darek Recording Session plain 2021-06-22T22:14:36+00:00
1. Song: "Singgalang Alai". I assume when the performers were asked to present "Singgalang Alai," they agreed that the tune that went by this title was what I am calling "Singgalang Alai [New]."
2. Song: "Singgalang Induak". I recorded the tiniest fraction of a conversation which suggests there was some confusion over titles and tunes, so the performers then presented a tune identified in my notes as "Singgalang Induak," but it should be noted that the variant they produced under this title--or at least what I have labeled as "Singgalang Induak"--is "Singgalang Alai [Old]," the same tune Mak Ajis St. Sati idenitified as "Singgalang Alai" at Bagurau di Udaro in September of that year. From the perspective 17 years later, I wish I had recorded the whole conversation for what insight it might sharing about this naming mystery.
3. Song: "Ratok Bonjo"
4. Song: "Pariaman Lamo"
5. Song: "Muaro Peti"
6. Song: "Sirompak Taeh"
7. Song: "Indang Payokumbuah"
8. Song: "Indang Batu Balang"
9. Song: "Tigo Balai"
10. Song: "Ratok Koto Gadang"
11. Song: "Suntiang Patah Batikam"
12. Song: "Sijobang" performed on just rabab
13. Song: "Muaro Peti" performed on just rabab
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 Bukittinggi, February 6, 2004 9 List of repertoire at Malam Suntuak plain 2021-06-17T19:32:42+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: "Pariaman Lamo"
6. Song: "Cancang Kambiang"
7. Song: "Kabau Punco"
8. Song: "Suayan Maik Ka Turun"
9. Song: "Balam jo Rantiang"
10. Song: "Bujang Marando"
11. Song: "Tabek Sarojo"
12. Song: "Sorak Gaduik"
13. Song: "Oyak Ambacang"
14. Song: "Ratok Bonjo"
15. Song: "Antaran Dama"
16. Song: "Suntiang Patah Batikam"; Rendition: "Suntiang Patah Batikam"
17. Song: "Buaian Anak"
18. Song: "Tanjuang Baliak"
19. Musical Item: Imbauan Saluang
20. Song: "Mudiak Suak"
21. Song: "Singgalang Parak Kina"
22. Song: "Parambahan"
23. Song: "Balam jo Rantiang"
24. Song: "Suayan Balenggek"
25. Song: "Ense Garendeh"
26. Song: "Baburu Babi"
27. Song: "Barabah Mandi"
28. Song: "Pariaman Laweh"
29. Song: "Bungo Larangan"
30. Song: "Padang Magek"
31. Song: "Pariaman Lamo"
32. Musical Item: Imbauan Saluang
33. Musical Item: Imbauan Singgalang
34. Song: "Singgalang Lagundi"
35. Song: "Saba Mananti"
36. Song: "Sawah Rawang"
37. Song: "Ampaian Santo"
38. Song: "Pitaruah Ayah"
39. Item: Jalu-Jalu
Repertoire: Radio Republik Indonesia, January 26, 2004 9 List of repertoire at Bagurau di Udaro plain 2021-06-29T21:35:04+00:00
I recorded this performance but there were major technical difficulties (possibly interference with the radio signal) that makes the recording unusable and unlistenable. The timings presented here are purely hypothetical, except to indicate the start of sets, which I did note down. I suspect there were more songs performed than these titles (somewhat akin to the Repertoire: Radio Republik Indonesia, September 27, 2004), but I do not have record of them.
1. Introductory Material: Imbauan Saluang
2. Introductory Material: Imbauan Singgalang
3. Song: "Singgalang Alai [New]"
4. Song: "Ratok Pak Bawang"
5. Song: "Cancang Kambiang"
6. Song: "Pariaman Lamo"
7. Song: "Lubuak Sao"
8. Song: "Suntiang Patah Batikam"
9. Song: "Ramalah Hanyuik"
10. Song: "Tanjuang Balik"
11. Song: "Guguak Manitik Ameh"
12. Song: "Ratok Koto Tuo"
13. Song: "Ratok Bonjo"
14. Song: "Lawang Lamo"
This material involved an introduction to the program, reading a series of request, and three sets of dendang. I imagine the set-up was similar to the Bagurau di Udaro I witnessed some months later, where a series of request slips would be read, a set of dendang were delivered, more slips were read before the delivery of the next set.
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"

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