Gondang Batak - From Traditional Ceremonies To The World Stage
Getting to Know Gondang Batak as a Traditional
Musical Instrument Known Worldwide.
Gondang Batak
Have you ever heard of Gondang Batak? Gondang Batak is a musical harmony that originates from the Batak Tribe in Indonesia. This sacred musical melody became known during wedding ceremonies and traditional funeral ceremonies.
Gondang Batak was first performed as a tribal religious ritual and as a means of communication to Dewa Mula Jadi Na Bolon (The Almighty Creator God)
The Gondang Batak ensemble consists of a group of drum instruments made from sturdy woods covered with cow or buffalo skin (Taganing), Keyboard, and Sulim (see the picture). The drum (Taganing) has a special way of playing it. They are arranged into 6-9 pieces and set up from the left to right according to each note, and played rythmically.
Gondang Batak is often combined with the Tor-Tor dance as accompaniment for ritual ceremonies in North Sumatra, Indonesia.
The Cultural Heritage of Gondang Batak
Gondang Batak has become one of the musical genres and instruments protected as an Indonesian cultural heritage, but it has not yet been registered as a world heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Indonesia actively showcases its local cultural heritage to the international community. Gondang Batak has already been presented on the world stage at events such as the Indonesia Festival (IndoFest) in Thailand (2024) and Asean Week in Seoul, South Korea (2019)
Gondang Batak On The World Stage
1. Indonesian Festival (IndoFest) Bangkok - Thailand
According to antaranews.com, more than 120 students from Thailand have learned Gondang Batak and the Tor-Tor dance at Khon Kaen University, Thailand. The Indonesia Embassy in Bangkok invited cultural artists from Indonesia, The Gondang Orchestra, to directly teach this Batak musical art to students in Bangkok.
Source : antaranews.com
2. Asean Week - Gondang Saurdot Community - South Korea
On June 14-16, 2019, at Seoul Plaza, South Korea, the Gondang Saurdot Community represented Indonesia to participate in an arts event. This community performed a collaboration featuring South Korean and Batak songs, accompanied by Gondang Batak instrumental.
According to Aldentua Siringo-ringo SH MH, as the Official Indonesia Delegations "Despite facing many challenges during the selection process, the Gondang Saurdot Community was finally able to become the only Indonesian delegation to showcase Batak culture at the Asean Week event. (quoted from hariansib.com)
Currently, Gondang Batak is rarely performed with a complete set of musical instruments because keyboard music technology can now create sound effects that are almost similar to Gondang Batak. However, local cultural practitioners continue to preserve this valuable cultural asset by offering Gondang music lessons.
Behind every traditional Batak ceremony, there is always the beat of the Gondang that stirs not only the ears, but also the heart. Now, the Gondang's sound is no longer limited to Batak lands; It has crossed to the world stage.
As long as the Gondang continues to beat, Batak culture will keep pulsating - and the world will feels its vibrations too.-
By : Evania Tiorifca Siagian
Medan, Sumatera Utara
