This site requires Javascript to be turned on. Please enable Javascript and reload the page.

Song in the Sumatran Highlands

Song: "Suayan Maik Ka Turun"

Alternative Title: "Suayan Maik Katurun"
Translation of Title: "Maik" means "corpse," "Ka turun" means "to put down," so "laying a corpse to rest." "Suayan" is inserted in the title to indicate the song's affiliation with a specific place.
Explanation: According to Martis, all songs associated with Suayan are derived from laments, specifically those grieving the loss of an individual.
Composer: Unknown.
Type of song:Ratok.

Place affiliations:

Nagari: Suayan.
Kecamatan: Akabiluru.
Luak: Limopuluah Koto.
Darek or Rantau: Darek.

Source: Te E's List of Songs, Mardjani's List of Songs.
Description: Martis related that this song was sung while taking the body to the grave. The melody is not all that different from Ratok Suayan.

This page has tags:

Contents of this tag:

This page is referenced by:

Type of Song: Ratok 24 Description of the ratok category plain 2021-05-17T11:04:37+00:00
Ratok are considered "sad songs." Etymologically, "ratok" is the Minangkabau word for mourning or lamentation. One of current songs identified as a ratok, "Suayan Maik Ka Turun" (literally "corpse to go down" from Suayan), is indeed about the act of interment. Most ratok, however, are not lamentations connected with death.

Songs identified as ratok are unmetered, meaning there is no discernible pulse throughout, and they tend to be highly ornamented. Some people consider ratok to be the quintessential type of song in saluang as they are affiliated with songs of longing for home and songs of loss (of places, people, relationships), etc. With the right poetic texts, these songs are known to move listeners to deep introspection (as seen in the image above) and even usher in tears. They often are requested and/or timed to be delivered in the latter part of a performance, starting around 1 a.m. Ratok are also considered the true test of a padendang's skill, both in execution of melodic material and ornamentation but also the subtlety of lyric content. The best padendang are specialists in ratok. Mak Sawir, for instance, was renowned for his delivery of ratok. Padendang often go into a deep headspace, closing their eyes, as they deliver these songs. Mak Sawir often cupped his ear. Listeners, too, shift to an internal focus during the delivery of ratok, moved by lyrics to reminisce about losses in their own lives.

The ratok category forms the largest percentage of all song types.
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: Suayan, July 29, 2016 18 List of repertoire at Malam Bagurau, Suayan plain 2021-06-17T19:40:02+00:00
1. Song: "Cancang Pidia"
2. Song: "Kincia Tuo"
3. Song: "Parambahan Bayua"
4. Song: "Indang Kayutanam"
5. Song: "Ratok Bainar"
6. Song: "Suayan Anguih"
7. Song: "Suayan Bukik Sarang Olang"
8. Song: "Ratok Koto Gadang"
9. Song: "Pariaman Panjang"
10. Song: "Indang Pariaman"
11. Song: "Padang Magek"
12. Song: "Oyak Ambacang"
13. Song: "Guguak Manitik Ameh"
14. Song: "Suntiang Patah Batikam"
15. Song: "Baso Lamo"
16. Song: "Salawat Dulang"
17. Song: "Kabau Punco"
18. Item: Talingkin, Song: "Simarantang"
19. Item: Talingkin, Song: "Lintau Buo"
20. Item: Talingkin, Song: Unknown
21. Musical Item: Imbauan Saluang
22. Musical Item: Imbauan Singgalang
23. Song: "Singgalang Rago-ragoan"
24. Song: "Singgalang Jaik Sangkuik"
25. Song: "Pariaman Tangguang"
26. Song: "Rangkuak Kerinci"
27. Song: "Indang Parik Rantang"
28. Song: "Kamang Bakayu"
29. Song: "Ladang Teleng"
30. Song: "Mudiak Suak"
31. Song: "Suayan Maik Ka Turun"
32. Song: "Suayan Usoli"
33. Song: "Sayang Bako" not recorded
34. Song: "Banda Sapuluah" not recorded
35. Song: "Lego Puyuah" not recorded
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
Note: Tukang Ratapi Mayat Tukang Ratapi Mayat means a "specialist in lamenting the dead." It's interesting that in the Mardjani report "tukang dendang" (i.e. padendang) and "tukang ratapi mayat" are identified as distinct roles, suggesting the vocalists specialize in different repertoire: songs vs. laments.

This is interesting because I have heard that it is no longer permissible to lament in the old manner--becoming deeply emotional over the death of a loved one--under current interpretations of Islam among the Minangkabau. Some ratok (sad songs) are derived from or closely affiliated with the act of lamenting, especially from the area of Suayan. For example, the dendang "Suayan Maik Ka Turun" (Laying the Corpse to Rest). These laments were recoded as "ratok," accompanied by saluang and/or rabab, so as to be more acceptable. It's interesting that back in 1988 lamenting was an acceptable category of practice.

This page has tags:

Contents of this tag:

This page is referenced by:

This page references: