ATS1346 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Kroncong, Dangdut, Culture Of Indonesia
25 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Week 6 – Popular Musics in Indonesia
Indonesia
• Shapes Indonesia
• Popular music unites different groups and islands
Kroncong
• Inspired by early Portuguese sailor music
• Indian film music, Arabic, Chinese-Malay and European influences
o Colonial capital
• Unsavoury social reputation
o Performers known as buaya kroncong ‘crocodiles’ or toughs
o Film makers use this style to attract audience
• Ukulele, acoustic guitar
• Diverse musical style
o Used for independence declaration in 1945
o No national traditional style because islands so diverse so many
ethical groups → used popular music
• E.g. Bengawan Solo (1940) written by Gesang Sundari Sukotji (2014)
o Describes how river flows from eastern to central Java
o And how other people have come to Java
o European styled influence
From Kroncong to Dangdut
• President Sukarno (1901-1970)
o President of Indonesia from 1945-1967
o National policy of Guided Democracy
▪ Authoritarian rule – military driven government regime
o Popular music imports and Western culture influences restricted
▪ Kroncong wasn’t Indonesian enough
▪ Wanted to keep western influences out
o Government very controlling
• Malay orchestra (orkes melayu) influences kroncong
• President Suharto (1921-2008)
o President of Indonesia from 1968-1998
o ‘New Order’ (Orde Baru) government
o Influx of Western pop, rock and country music into Indonesia
▪ Opened doors to western music
▪ Local musicians got hands on insturments and formed new
form of popular music - Dangdut
Dangdut
• Originally appealed to lower class youth
• People’s music
o Everyone could relate
• Dangdut is the popular music of Indonesia (today)
o Accessible lyrics (performed in Indonesian)
o Universal subject matter – love and loss
o Danceable beat
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Indonesia: shapes indonesia, popular music unites different groups and islands. Bengawan solo (1940) written by gesang sundari sukotji (2014: describes how river flows from eastern to central java, and how other people have come to java, european styled influence. Instruments: javanese drum, tabla, bamboo flute, electric and bass guitars, electric keyboards, very few chords (max. four, tambourine, drume set, structure is very consisten. Incorporated rock influences: changed the face of indonesian popular music, assembled glamour and glitter on stage, fascinating synthesis with an undeniably indonesian nature, skilfully wrought and compelling song narratives. Islam, politics and western rock music in indonesia. Irama made the pilgrimage (hajj) to mecca, saudi arabia. Incorporated didactic dakwah music music with a conscious islamic missionary element: fans felt that irama was the voice of their generation, enriched dangdut music with hard rock, traditional bamboo flute and indigenous melodies.
