Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu
Krambangan is a traditional music genre from Poso played on traditional musical instruments. The music is usually played to accompany an event in which poems are recited reciprocally by the Pamona and Mori people, the indigenous ethnic groups of Poso, Central Sulawesi.
Krambangan is played on a guitar that one makes oneself. As the strings are made of an alloy of gold and copper, the music played on this guitar sounds more melodious than the music played on an ordinary guitar.
Unfortunately, following the sectarian conflict that ravaged the area in 2000, Krambangan music also disappeared along with the Dero dance. The main reason being that hard-liners in Poso city prohibited the Dero dance.
"For them, the Dero dance is forbidden by their religion. People of the opposite sex who are not relatives are not allowed to hold hands. The prohibition of the Dero dance has meant the disappearance of Krambangan music," said M. Amin Abdullah, 40, a choreographer and native of Palu.
In the past, Krambangan was very popular because it accompanied the Dero dance, in which participants form a circle symbolizing the brotherhood of Muslims and Christians in Poso.
Krambangan music is also a symbol of masculinity for Poso young men. It is also known as a means to find a partner. When a young man is looking for a life partner, he will play this music.
Mohammad Amin Abdullah earned his master's degree in Asian Studies from the University of Hawai in Manoa. In an effort to revive Krambangan music, he performed a new piece titled The Loss of Krambangan early in June this year.
His message was simple: Bring back Krambangan to Poso.
"Krambangan must return to its land of origin. Art cannot be blamed in a sectarian conflict.
"Don't pursue temporary interests that benefit only a certain group of people at the expense of our traditional art and culture, Abdullah told The Jakarta Post in a recent interview.
The Loss of Krambangan, according to Amin, maintains the tradition and also incorporates new ideas. With traditional music as the basic idea, he went on to develop a new creation combining symbols of tradition and modernity.
"A new creation is a process of transforming the music played in daily lives onto the stage," he said.
The 'sintuwu' concept
Out of Amin's great love for this traditional music of Poso, he has included the sintuwu concept in his music in The Hawai Kakula Ensemble.
In the Kaili and Poso languages, sintuwu means to bring life together. An old word, sintuwu implies how activities in an oral tradition are group-oriented and are not based on individualism. It is synonymous with the nation's expression of gotong-royong, or mutual assistance.
This concept of collaboration is the key to understanding how various communities in Indonesia are mutually dependent.
Sintuwu has become a creative method in the works of Amin, who was born in Poso and who also works at the Central Sulawesi Education Office.
There are three stages in the sintuwu method, he said.
The players will first find a theme, then, using this theme, they work on the music in collaboration and finally they perform the music, which undergoes a process of evolution after its first performance.
When he starts a composition, Amin will take with him a theme or a musical concept when he comes to a rehearsal for the first time. This concept may be in the form of a motif, a melody, a rhythm, texture, tempo or an idea about which instruments to use.
"What matters most to me is what is to be conveyed through the work. The music is made during rehearsals."
The sintuwu method allows musicians to play music according to their own ability and also to improvise. His job is only to provide a stimulus. This method, therefore, also emphasizes the intimate interaction among musicians.
A composition will be considered complete when a rehearsal is over and the composition will continue to develop after being performed.
Sintuwu, Amin says, is the symbol of brotherhood among the people of Poso. Everyone in Poso are brothers and sisters without any ethnic or religious differences.
"I just want one thing. Bring back Krambangan and Dero to their land of origin. Although a thousand people prohibit it, 10 times as many people will keep it and let it survive," Amin said with conviction.***
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