[Kabar-indonesia] 'Krambangan' - The Rhythm of Poso

[JoyoNews at aol.com]

The Jakarta Post
Monday, July 17, 2006

Feature

'Krambangan' - The Rhythm of Poso 

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

photo: Modero Palu, a group of traditional krambangan musicians 
led by M. Amin Abdullah, performs in Palu. (JP/Ruslan Sangaji)  

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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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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