Musical instruments
Balinese gamelan performance.
SambaSunda music performance, featuring traditional Sundanese music instruments such as kecapi, suling, and kendang.
The musical identity of Indonesia as we know it today began as the
Bronze Age culture migrated to the Indonesian archipelago in the 2nd-3rd century BC.
[3] Traditional musics of Indonesian tribes often uses percussion instruments, especially
gendang (
drums) and
gongs. Some of them developed elaborate and distinctive musical instruments, such as
sasando string instrument of
Rote island,
angklung of
Sundanese people, and the complex and sophisticated
gamelan orchestra of
Java and
Bali.
[edit]Gamelan
In Central Java, gamelan is intricate and meticulously laid out. The central melody is played on a metallophone in the center of the orchestra, while the front elaboration and ornamentation on the melody, and, at the back, the gongs slowly punctuate the music. There are two tuning systems. Each Gamelan is tuned to itself, and the intervals between notes on the scale vary between ensembles. The metallophones cover four octaves, and include types like the
slenthem,
demung,
saron panerus and
balungan. The soul of the gamelan is believed to reside in the large gong, or
gong ageng. Other gongs are tuned to each note of the scale and include
ketuk,
kenong and
kempul. The front section of the orchestra is diverse, and includes
rebab,
suling,
siter,
bonang and
gambang. Male choruses (
gerong) and female (
pesindhen)
solo vocalists are common.
Gamelan from eastern Java is less well-known than central or western parts of the island. Perhaps most distinctive of the area is the extremely large
gamyak drum. In West Java, formerly
Sunda, has several types of gamelan.
Gamelan Degung,
gamelan salendro and
tembang sunda are three primary types. The
Osing Javanese minority in eastern Java are known for social music for weddings and other celebrations, called
gandrung, as well as
angklung, played by young amateur boys, which is very similar to
Balinese gamelan.
[edit]Kecapi suling
Main article:
Kacapi suling
[edit]Angklung
Angklung is a bamboo musical instrument native to Sundanese people of West Java. It is made out of bamboo tubes attached to a bamboo frame. The tubes are carved so that they have a distinctive resonant pitch when being vibrated. Each angklung only plays one note.
[edit]Kolintang
Kolintang or kulintang is a bronze and wooden percussion instrument native to eastern Indonesia and also The Philippines. In Indonesia it is particularly associated with
Minahasa people of North Sulawesi, however it also popular in
Maluku and
Timor.
[edit]Sasando
Sasando is a plucked string instrument native of
Rote island of
East Nusa Tenggara. The parts of sasando are a bamboo cylinder surrounded by several wedges where the strings are stretched, surrounded by a bag-like fan of dried
lontar or palmyra leafs (Borassus flabellifer), functioned as the resonator of the instrument.
[edit]Tapanuli ogong
The diverse world of Indonesian music genres was the result of the musical creativity of its people, and also the subsequent cultural encounters with foreign musical influences into the archipelago. Next to distinctive native form of musics, several genres can traces its origin to foreign influences; such as gambus and qasidah from Middle Eastern Islamic music, keroncong from Portuguese influences, and dangdut with notable Hindi music influence.
[edit]Folk musics
Indonesian regional folk pop musics reflects the diversity of
Indonesian culture and
Indonesian ethicity, mostly use
local languages and a mix of western and regional style music and instruments. Indonesian folk music is quite diverse, and today embraces pop, rock, house,
hip hop and other genres, as well as distinct Indonesian forms. There are several kinds of "ethnic" pop music, generally grouped together as
Pop Daerah (regional pop). These include
Pop sunda, Pop Minang, Pop Batak, Pop Melayu, Pop Ambon, Pop Minahasa and others. Other than featuring the legacy of
Lagu Daerah (regional traditional songs) of each regional cultures, the musician might also create some new compositions in their own native language.
[edit]Tembang sunda
Tembang sunda, also called
seni mamaos cianjuran, or just cianjuran, is a form of sung poetry which arose in the colonial-era of
Cianjur. It was first known as an aristocratic art; one cianjuran composer was R.A.A. Kusumahningrat (Dalem Pancaniti), ruler of Cianjur (1834–1862). The instruments of Cianjuran are kacapi indung, kacapi rincik and
suling or bamboo flute, and
rebab for
salendro compositions. The lyrics are typically sung in free verse, but a more modern version,
panambih, is metrical. It is usually the drums.
[edit]Jaipongan
Jaipongan is a very complex rhythmic dance music from the
Sundanese people of western Java. The rhythm is liable to change seemingly randomly, making dancing difficult for most listeners. Its instruments are entirely Sundanese, completely without imported instruments. It was invented by artists like
Gugum Gumbira after
Sukarno prohibited
rock and roll and other western genres in the '60s.
Gambus literally means
oud, referring to a type of
lute or 12-string pear-shaped guitar, is the Middle-Eastern-derived Islamic vocal and instrumental music. These traditions began to be incorporated throughout many areas of Indonesia by the 16th century.
[edit]Qasidah modern
Qasidah is an ancient
Arabic word for religious poetry accompanied by chanting and percussion. Qasidah modern adapts this for pop audiences. It is used to denote a type of orchestra and the music it plays, believed to be introduced by Muslim settlers from
Yemen. Qasidah modern were derived from Islamic pop, adding local dialects and lyrics that address Indonesian contemporary issues. Though popular among Arabs in Indonesia, it has gained little popularity elsewhere.
The contemporary form of Islamic Middle eastern influenced musics in Indonesia is
Debu, that featuring
sufism approach on music to spread their message.
[edit]Kroncong
Kroncong (alternative spelling:
Keroncong) has been evolving since the arrival of the
Portuguese, who brought with them
European instruments. By the early 1900s, it was considered a low-class urban music. This changed in the 1930s, when the rising Indonesian film industry began incorporating kroncong. And then even more so in the mid- to late 1940s, it became associated with the
struggle for independence.
Perhaps the most famous
song in the kroncong style is
Bengawan Solo, written in 1940 by
Gesang Martohartono, a
Solonese musician. Written during the
Japanese Imperial Army occupation of the island in
World War II, the song (about the
Bengawan Solo River, Java's longest and most important river) became widely popular among the Javanese, and then later nationally when recordings were broadcast over the local radio stations. The song also became quite popular with the Japanese soldiers, and when they returned to
Japan at the end of the war re-recordings of it (by Japanese artists) became best-sellers. Over the years it has been re-released many times by notable artists, mainly within Asia but also beyond (like
Anneke Grönloh), and in some places it is seen as typifying Indonesian music. Gesang himself remains the most renowned exponent of the style, which although it is seen now as a somewhat starchy and "dated" form is still popular among large segments of the population, particularly the older generation.
After the World War II and during Indonesian National Revolution (1945—1949) and afterwards, kroncong was associated with patriotism, since many of Indonesian poets and patriotic songs authors uses kroncong and somewhat jazz fusion as the genre of their works. The patriotic theme and romantic wartime romance was obvious in the works of
Ismail Marzuki, such as
Rayuan Pulau Kelapa,
Indonesia Pusaka,
Sepasang Mata Bola,
Keroncong Serenata and
Juwita Malam. These patriotic songs can be sung in hymn or even in orchestra, but most often was sung in kroncong style known as
kroncong perjuangan (struggle kroncong). The kroncong divas;
Waldjinah,
Sundari Sukoco and
Hetty Koes Endang, was instrumental in reviving the style in the 1980s.
- Langgam Jawa or Tembang Jawa
- Gambang Kromong
Early in the 20th century, kroncong was used in a type of theater called
komedi stanbul; adapted for this purpose, the music was called gambang kromong. Gambang kromong is quite prevalent in
Betawiculture of Jakarta.
[edit]Dangdut
A dangdut music performance
Dangdut was originally an Indonesian
dance music that has spread throughout Southeast Asia, became the dominant pop style in the mid-1970s. Famous for its throbbing beat and the slightly moralistic lyrics that appeal to Muslim youth, dangdut stars dominate the modern pop scene. However dangdut — especially performed by female singers — also often featuring suggestive dance movements and naughty lyrics to appeal the larger audience. This development was strongly opposed by the conservative older generation dangdut artist.
[edit]Campursari
[edit]Contemporary musics
The contemporary music of Indonesia is diverse and vibrant. Throughout its history, Indonesian musicians were open to foreign influences of various music genres of the world. American jazz were heavily marketed in Asia, and foxtrots, tangos, rumbas, blues and Hawaiian guitar styles were all imitated by Indonesian musicians.
[4] As the result various genres were developed within Indonesian music frame; Indonesian pop, rock, jazz, and hip hop.
Indonesian music also plays a vital role in the Indonesian creative pop culture, especially as the
soundtracks or theme songs of
Indonesian cinema and
sinetrons (Indonesian TV drama). Indonesian popular film
Badai Pasti Berlalu (1977) were also produced successful soundtrack hit with same title in the same year, the soundtrack was remaked in 1999 with
Chrisye as the main singer and rendered by
Erwin Gutawa in orchestra style. In 2007 the film also being remaked again with new soundtract that still featuring same songs performed by younger generation artist. Another popular Indonesian coming of age teen movie
Ada Apa Dengan Cinta (2002) also produced successful soundtrack hits with most songs written and performed by
Melly Goeslaw.
Today Indonesian music industry enjoyed nationwide popularity. Thanks to common culture and intelligible languages between
Indonesian and
Malay, Indonesian music enjoyed regional popularity in neighbouring countries such as Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. However the overwhelming popularity of Indonesian music in Malaysia had alarmed the Malaysian music industry. In 2008 Malaysian music industry demanded the restriction of Indonesian songs on Malaysian radio broadcasts.
[5]
[edit]Orchestra
The
classical music have reached Indonesia since the era of
Dutch East Indies as early as 18th century, enjoyed only by a handful of wealthy Dutch plantation owners and officers in elite social clubs and ballrooms such as Societeit Harmonie in
Batavia and Societeit Concordia in
Bandung. De Schouwburg van Batavia (today Gedung Kesenian Jakarta) was designed as concert hall in 19th century. Associated as the music of refined, wealthy and educated high class citizen, the exclusive and prestigious classical music never penetrate the whole population during East Indies colonial era. The type of western-derived music that transcends the social barrier at that time was Kroncong, known as the lower-class music.
An amateur group called "Bataviasche Philharmonic Orchestra" was established in Dutch Colonial times, later it turned into the NIROM orchestra, as soon as the radio broadcasting station Nederlandsch-Indische Radio Omroep Maatschappij was born in 1912. Today it is known as
Jakarta Symphony Orchestra that has existed in the country's musical world for almost a century through its changing formats to suit prevailing trends and needs. In 1950, a merger of the Cosmopolitan Orchestra under Joel Cleber and the Jakarta Studio Orchestra under Sutedjo and Iskandar appeared as the Djakarta Radio Orchestra under Henkie Strake for classical repertoires, and the Jakarta Studio Orchestra led by Syaiful Bachri specialized in Indonesian pieces. In 2010 Jakarta Symphony Orchestra staged a comeback after a fairly long absence.
[6]
In 1960s to 1980s classical music in Indonesia aired mainly by the national radio broadcasting service Radio Republik Indonesia (
RRI) and the national TV station Televisi Republik Indonesia (
TVRI) through their programs. During these decade, the classical orchestra mainly developed in Universities as extracurricular activity for students which include
choir. In 1990s the group of professional symphony orchestra start to took form, notably The
Twilite Orchestra led by Adie MS, was founded in June 1991, initially an ensemble with 20 musicians. The ensemble has developed since then into a full symphonic orchestra with 70 musicians, a 63-member Twilite Chorus, and a repertoire that ranges from
Beethoven to
The Beatles.
[7] The orchestra has played a role in promoting Indonesian music, especially in the preservation of national songs by Indonesian composers and traditional songs. Aided by the Victorian Philharmonic Orchestra with the Twilite Chorus,
Addie MS re-recorded the Indonesian national anthem,
Indonesia Raya, by
WR Supratman in its original orchestral arrangement by
Jos Cleber, as well as other Indonesian popular national songs in the album
Simfoni Negeriku.
Today, major cities like Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta and Surabaya are no strangers to orchestral music, with their own symphony groups. Jakarta, for instance, has its Nusantara Symphony Orchestra, the Twilite Orchestra and the Jakarta Chamber Orchestra.
Peterpan, one of Indonesia's popular bands
Indonesian pop music today is known simply as "pop Indonesia" is heavily influenced by trends and recordings from America.
[8] Although influences ranging from
Bollywoodsoundtracks to
Hollywood pop acts are obvious, the Indonesian pop phenomena is not completely derivative; it expresses the sentiments and styles of contemporary Indonesian life.
Koes Bersaudara later formed as
Koes Plus is considered as one of the pioneer of Indonesian pop and rock 'n roll music in 1960s and 1970s. The American and British music influences were obvious in the music of Koes Bersaudara,
The Beatles were known to be the main influences of this band. Several Indonesian pop and ballad singers were survived through decades and become Indonesian music legends, such as
Iwan Fals, Franky Sahilatua and
Chrisye.
Some of Indonesian pop bands are rekindle with their
Malay roots and revived a genre called "Band Pop Melayu" (Pop Malay Band) and popular in late 2000s. The pop Malay bands are Kangen Band, WALI, Hijau Daun, Armada, Angkasa, and
ST 12. This genre is the contemporary form of old Orkes Melayu style, once popular in the region across Indonesia and Malaysia.
The most recent foreign influences on Indonesian pop musics are the style and genre of
J-pop and
K-pop. Several bands such as
J-Rocks, Geisha, Daishi and SM*SH boyband are imitating the style of
Japanand
Korea pop culture.
Just like pop music, Indonesian rock scene also heavily influenced by the development of rock music in America. The most influential Indonesian rock bands was probably
Panbers and God Bless that popular in 1970s and 1980s. In late 1980s to mid 1990s several female rock singers popularly known as "Lady Rockers" were famous in Indonesia, such as
Nicky Astria, Inka Christie, and
Anggun that started her career in as a pop-rock singer in Indonesia before moving to France and pursue her international career. Other notable rock bands include
Slank, Netral, /rif and
Jamrud.
[edit]Jazz fusion
Some of Indonesian musicians and bands were exploring the
jazz music. Notable Indonesian jazz musicians are; Modulus band, Karimata band, Barry Likumahua, Indra Lesmana, Syaharani,
Maliq & D'Essentials and Trisum (Tohpati, Dewa Budjana, and Balawan). Various other groups fuse contemporary westernized
jazz fusion music with the traditional
ethnic music traditions of their hometown. In the case of
Krakatau and
SambaSunda, the bands from West Java, the traditional Sundanese kacapi suling and gamelan orchestra is performed alongside drum set, keyboard and guitars. Other bands such as Bossanova Java were fused Javanese music with bossanova, while Kulkul fuse jazz with Balinese gamelan. The
Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival is performed annually, featuring famous International as well as Indonesian jazz musicians. It has become one of the most important Jazz event in the region.
[edit]Indonesian music legends
From
Gesang, Koes Bersaudara/Koes Plus, Dara Puspita, Alfian,
Titiek Puspa,
Guruh Gipsy,
Gombloh,
Bing Slamet,
Benyamin Sueb, Godbless,
Chrisye, DARSO (Calung X),
Harry Roesli(50's-70's) till
Fariz RM,
Iwan Fals, and many more. There is also
The Tielman Brothers who originally from Indonesia but they gained popularity in
Europe, especially
Netherlands