Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Mission for Culture

Alfira O'Sullivan: memperkenalkan tarian Indonesia ke sekolah Australia

Alfira O'sullivanSuara Indonesia Dance adalah kelompok penari yang bertujuan untuk memperkenalkan dan bahkan melestarikan tarian-tarian tradisional Indonesia di Australia. Strategi yang mereka gunakan adalah dengan mengadakan tur keliling sekolah-sekolah di Australia dan mengajarkan berbagai jenis tarian, dan juga pencak silat, dari Indonesia ke anak-anak sekolah.
Minggu ini mereka berada di negara bagian Tasmania untuk mengunjungi delapan sekolah dan memperkenalkan tarian tradisional disana.
Alfira O'Sullivan, Direktur Artistik Suara Indonesia Dance, menjelaskan kepada Radio Australia bahwa antusiasme anak-anak di sekolah-sekolah yang dikunjunginya sangat tinggi atas seni dan budaya Indonesia. Dia juga sudah mengembangkan cara yang menurutnya tepat untuk meningkatkan antusiasme anak-anak sekolah untuk mempelajari seni tari dari Indonesia.
"Tari dari Aceh kebanyakan [yang kami perkenalkan], tari duduk dari Aceh menggunakan tangan dan badan sangat gampang buat anak-anak untuk belajar," katanya.
Selain tari-tarian murni, perempuan berdarah Aceh-Irlandia ini mengatakan dia juga mengajarkan Pencak Silat kepada murid-murid sekolah, selain juga Randai, yang menggabungkan gerakan-gerakan silat dalam tarian.
Tapi dari mana dia memulai profesi ini? Awalnya ternyata dari sebuah hobi yang tidak berhubungan, yaitu radio. 

"Awalnya sebagai hobi saja, kesenangan kita, dulu punya radio komunitas dan penyiar-penyiarnya suka nari sebagai hobi, lama kelamaan jadi profesi karena saya belajar di Surakarta dan ISI Yogya, dan lebih banyak orang minta menari, dan makin banyak sekolah meminta kita mengajar di sekolah. Selama dua tahun belakang ini saya fokusnya menari, membuat event seniman Indonesia dan Australia di Sydney dan Melbourne."
(sumber: Radio Australia)

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

10 Exotic Indonesian View to Visit

Holiday has come! Now where do you plan your vacation this time? Will it be shopping to Singapore? Tours to Europe? Or traveling to China? Or..getting on safari in Africa? Hmm.. why don’t you check out Indonesia, the archipelagi with so many different exotic and natural beauties, which you may have not visited?

Now, before deciding your vacation destination, why not try the special attractions in several places below, of genuine Indonesian beauties but not less exotic and fascinating.. Check it out! 

1. Komodo Island, East Nusa Tenggara

Komodo National Park (TN Komodo, Ind.) is a region consisting of several islands with sea water. The islands are the habitat of the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), the ancient reptile that is still left on earth. Unique natural conditions, there is a vast savanna oflontar trees (Borassus flabellifer). The Komodo Island is situated in a strait between the island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and Sumbawa in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). The Island of Komodo also have waters that include the magical underwater world. Sea bottom waters of Komodo is the best in the world, on the sea level where dry lands of hilly corals appear. Very reasonable if the Komodo Island is included in the list of the Wonders of Indonesia.

2. Raja Ampat, West Papua
The archipelago is a place that has the potential to serve as a tourist attraction, especially diving tourism. Raja Ampat consists of 4 major islands namely Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo. The waters of Raja Ampat Islands, according to various sources, is one of the 10 best waters for diving sites around the world. In fact, it may also be recognized as number one for the completeness of underwater flora and fauna at this time. In addition, approximately 75% of the world’s coral species in Raja Ampat. None of the places with the same area has a number of coral species as much as this. In addition, the unique species that can be found at the time of diving in Raja Ampat are several types of dwarf sea horses, wobbegong, and Manta Rays. There are also endemic fish of Raja Ampat, namely the Eviota king, which is a kind of gobbie fish. At Manta Point which is located in Arborek, Dampier Strait, you can dive in the company of some tame Manta Rays, just like when you dive in Derawan Islands, East Kalimantan.

3. Bintan Island, Riau Islands
The Bintan Island is located in Riau Islands Province. The atmosphere on the island is truly enchanting with its natural beauty. Gleaming white sands, blue water and trees are the combination that makes this island so exotic. In this island resort are also available lots of accomodations that can be rented for honeymoon, private beach, underwater tourism (diving and snorkeling), as well as culinary tourism that can be an alternative while on vacation with your family.



4. Ngarai Sianok, Bukittinggi, West Sumatra
Ngarai Sianok is located on the central city of Bukittinggi, West Sumatra Province, stretching from south of Nagari Koto Gadang continued to north, Nagari Sianok Enam Suku and ended at Palupuh with a length of 15 km, a depth of 100 meters and 200 meters wide. Ngarai Sianok or the ‘Quiet Valley’ is a beautiful valley, green and lush, on the bottom flows a beautifully winding river, tracing the cracks colorful cliffs with Mount Merapi and the background of the verdant Singgalang. It’s truly stunning natural beauty. To enjoy the beauty of this canyon is fairly easy, because Ngarai Sianok is a canyon in the center of a big town that does not exist in other cities in the world. Such natural beauty of the enchanting Ngarai Sianok has always been the object for tourists to take photographs as well as for the painter’s source of imagination. Surf trip through the canyon trails in the valley is an interesting recreation, if the trip forwarded within 45 minutes to th eother side, you will arrive in Nagari Koto Gadang, which has such specific tradition and exoticism of Minangkabau.

5. Kaliurang, Yogyakarta
Kaliurang is 28 kilometers north from the Yogyakarta city center, exactly in the hamlet of Kaliurang, Hargobinangun, Pakem, Sleman. Kaliurang has now become an area of ​​natural and cultural attractions that lure. Kaliurang is suitable as a place of leisure and relax with your family, as the cool weather and natural background with a gurgling mountain stream really makes the atmosphere became so exotic, yet comforting.

 6. Lake Tiga Warna (Kelimutu), Flores, East Nusa Tenggara
The lake is widely known as one of the nine wonders of the world. The lake of three colors is located on Mount Kelimutu, Flores, NTT. There are three adjacent lakes but with different colors, namely Tiwu Ata Polo (red lake), Tiwu Nua Muri Kooh Fai (green lake) and Tiwu Ata Mbupu (blue lake). Lake Kelimutu is the only lake in the world in which the water can change at any time, from red to dark green and maroon, dark green to light green, blackish brown to blue sky. This natural phenomenon is a miracle, and certainly will amaze you and your family indeed.

7. Lake Gunung Tujuh,  Kerinci Seblat National Park, Jambi
Lake Gunung Tujuh is the most favorite tourist attraction in and around the Kerinci region. Meanwhile, it is situated at an altitude of 1,996 meters above sea level, making this lake as the highest lake in Southeast Asia. In addition to its natural beautiful, panoramic views on the lake are included in the Kerinci Seblat National Park (TNKS, Ind.) that is stunningly beautiful. Besides the beautiful natural panorama, the lake is surrounded by six mountains, namely Mount Hulu Tebo with a height of 2525 meters above sea level/asl, Mount Hulu Sangir (2330 meters asl), Mount Mandura Besi (2418 meters asl), Mount Selasih (2230 meters asl), Mount Jar Panggang (2469 meters asl), and Mount Tujuh (2732 meters asl) as the highest peak. Not only that, as the area that became one of the centers of biodiversity, in the TNKS area of ​​the Lake Gunung Tujuh also live many unique species such as the Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatraensis), gibbons, sun bears, wild boars, tapirs, a wide variety of birds and species of butterflies. Plants that live in this region are varied with the belle of the various species of wild orchids and kantong semar flowers. There are also the Gunung Tujuh Waterfall, with a height of tens of meters that sourced from the Lake Gunung Tujuh. Visitors who want to reach this waterfall can follow through paths not far from the former homestead resort near the guardhouse at the foot of the mountain.

8. Sangalaki Island, Derawan Islands, East Kalimantan
Sangalaki is a small island covering an area about 13 acres. With a relaxed way, you can circle the island with the status of Nature Tourism Park (TWA, Ind.) only within 30 minutes. During the trip, you will enjoy the white sandy beaches and charming sea. In the morning and evening, you can also enjoy the natural phenomena of amazing sunrise and sunset. Not only that, for around the island, you can also see a variety of wildlife that you’ve probably never seen before. Such as coconut crabs, monitor lizards, bold eagles, singed bird of the Philippines, reef egrets, pergam sea birds and other shore/sea birds. In addition, the Sangalaki Island also has a natural underwater beauty, coral reefs in this island is also one of the best in the world. Based on the survey conducted in 2003 Laeden Museum Naturalis, in the waters of Sangalaki Island and Derawan Isalnds had been found 40 species of coral fungis (mushroom corals). This is the location of water areas with the highest diversity of coral mushrooms in Berau MPA (Wiryawan et al, 2005). The Sangalaki Island waters also contained 1,051 species of reef fish and five species of seagrass. Sangalaki Island is also the spot for turtle landing sites and its waters are also the location of Manta Rays aggregations.

9. Moyo Island, West Nusa Tenggara
Now, besides for the family, for you whom just got married, there’s no harm in choosing the Moyo Island in the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB, Ind.) as a place of your honeymoon destination. The terrain is still quiet and genuine, but do not be afraid there is no facility. There have been quite a lot of cottages and inns that provide various facilities. In addition to the white sand, there are also coral reefs completed with colorful marine fish. Not to forget, the waterfalls and natural pools, which will add a romantic atmosphere for you and your spouse.

10. Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi
Wakatobi, located in Southeast Sulawesi Province, consists of Wangi Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia and Binongko Islands, famous for its natural beauty under the sea which is rich in coral reefs and other marine species. Wakatobi, which is home to hundreds of species of coral reefs has been named as the center of the Coral Triangle (triangular coral reefs of the world, consisting of Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Brunei Darussalam, Solomon Islands and Timor Leste). Not only that, the Wakatobi archipelago also has a natural pristine, quiet with fresh sea water, underwater caves adjacent to each other that are served exclusively for true nature lovers. In addition to diving and snorkeling, the beach is also provided by specialized motor diving, snorkeling tours and exploration on the islands. A small area located next to the Tomia Island, an area of ​​8 km2 called the Island of Tolandona (Onernobaa Island) is very unique because the island is surrounded by the beautiful sea garden.

Indonesian Bay and Beach Festival







Following the success of previous editions, the Government of West Halmahera will once again present the 5th edition of the Festival Teluk Jailolo or Jailolo Bay Festival 2013 from 16th to 18th May 2013,  at Jailolo or Gilolo , other names given by the inhabitants to the island  better known as Halmahera in the province of North Maluku.

The 5th Jailolo Bay Festival: Treasure of the Golden Spice Islands

15 May 2013 -  18 May 2013



Reviving the former glory of Halmahera as the world’s origin of spices, and acknowledging the island’s abundant natural and cultural wealth, this year the Jailolo Bay Festival has particularly chosen the theme “The Treasure of Golden Spice Islands”.

Organized by the office of Tourism of the West Halmahera Regency, the event is aimed to introduce and promote the natural splendors, cultural attractions, and other potential attractions of the regency. During  the festivities, the public will be presented with various unique programs such as a Spice Parade, a Spice Expo, Spice Trip, a Fishing Competition, Swimming Competition, Rowing Competition, Fun Diving, the traditional sea ritual of Sigofi Ngolo, and a Culinary Fiesta featuring a barbecue party of 10 tons of fish.


As  usual, the pinnacle of the festival  will be the grand Cabaret set on the stage above the sea which this year is dubbed as Sasadu on the Sea. The Sasadu on the Sea is a collaborative production of  Dance Maestro and Choreographer Eko Supriyanto, renowned art director Oleg Sanchabakhtiar, and professional stage director Dimas Leimana.


A former dancer for the international Diva, Madonna, Eko Supriyanto has collaborated with some of the big names in the entertainment industry in  the country including Garin Nugroho, Slank, and Peter Sellars, while Dimas Leimana has been  involved in some international scale shows including those of  Mariah Carey, Bjork, and Beyonce. Oleg Sanchabachtiar.  On the other hand, Leimena is no stranger on Indonesia’s performance scene.

The sparsely populated island that is better known as Halmahera encompasses an area of 17,000 square kilometers. Here nature is exquisite which continues to inspire the festival each year. The Moslem and Christian population jointly participate annually in a joyous and harmonious local festivity that has developed into an international event.

Belitong Beach Festival & Expo 2013

18 May 2013 -  20 May 2013
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Belitong Beach Festival 2013

Having been  introduced to the world through the bestselling novel  “Laskar Pelangi” or The Rainbow Troops, the enchanting island of Belitung -also known as Belitong, will sparkle again with festivities as the Belitong Beach Festival & Expo 2013 gets underway from 18th to 20th May 2013.

Held for the first time ever, the event will be centered around the town of Tanjungpandan on Belitung Island, in the province of Bangka Belitung.

The festival will be highlighted with cultural performances, exhibitions, music stages, culinary fair, and much more. To top it off, the festival will also be highlighted by the performance of the Jember Fashion Carnival during the Beach parties at the Tanjung Pendam Beach, the Tanjung Kalayang Beach, and the Tanjung Tinggi Beach. Those present can also enjoy a disco party on the beach and opportunities to take pictures with the models and the amazing costumes of the Jember Fashion Carnival.

Aimed to further promote the beauty of Belitung Island, the event is initiated by the provincial government of Bangka Belitung through the office of Tourism and Culture and organized by PT.Sriwijaya Media Konvex, Although as yet not as popular as Bali or Lombok, Belitung is blessed with some of the best beaches of the country. The sand is soft and as white as sugar, and some even argue that the sand here is even whiter than in Bali.

The most distinct feature of the Belitung beaches are the giant granite rock formations that lie scattered along its shallow shores. Ranging from several cubic meters, these giant granite rocks can measure the size of a two-storey house. Some formations of these huge rocks even have short tunnels underneath them, making this an exciting playground for visitors to bathe in its calm waters.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Beautiful Indonesia

Wikipedia's photo
Indonesia (Listeni/ˌɪndəˈnʒə/ IN-də-NEE-zhə or /ˌɪndˈnziə/ IN-doh-NEE-zee-ə), officially the Republic of Indonesia (Indonesian: Republik Indonesia Indonesian pronunciation: [rɛpʊblik ɪndonesia]), is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 17,508 islands.[6] It has 34 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an elected legislature and president. The nation's capital city is Jakarta. The country shares land borders with Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Malaysia. Other neighboring countries include Singapore, Philippines, Australia, Palau, and the Indian territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Indonesia is a founding member of ASEAN and a member of the G-20 major economies. The Indonesian economy is the world's sixteenth largest by nominal GDP and fifteenth largest by purchasing power parity.

The Indonesian archipelago has been an important trade region since at least the 7th century, when Srivijaya and then later Majapahit traded with China and India. Local rulers gradually absorbed foreign cultural, religious and political models from the early centuries CE, and Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms flourished. Indonesian history has been influenced by foreign powers drawn to its natural resources. Muslim traders and Sufi missionaries brought Islam, the most dominant religion in the country, while European powers brought Christianity and fought one another to monopolize trade in the Spice Islands of Maluku during the Age of Discovery. Following three and a half centuries of Dutch colonialism, Indonesia secured its independence after World War II. Indonesia's history has since been turbulent, with challenges posed by natural disasters, corruption, separatism, a democratization process, and periods of rapid economic change.
Across its many islands, Indonesia consists of hundreds of distinct native ethnic and linguistic groups. The largest—and politically dominant—ethnic group are the Javanese. A shared identity has developed, defined by a national language, ethnic diversity, religious pluralism within a majority Muslim population, and a history of colonialism and rebellion against it. Indonesia's national motto, "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" ("Unity in Diversity" literally, "many, yet one"), articulates the diversity that shapes the country. Despite its large population and densely populated regions, Indonesia has vast areas of wilderness that support the world's second highest level of biodiversity. The country has abundant natural resources, yet poverty remains widespread.
 
The name Indonesia derives from the Latin and Greek Indus, and the Greek nèsos, meaning "island" The name dates to the 18th century, far predating the formation of independent Indonesia. In 1850, George Windsor Earl, an English ethnologist, proposed the terms Indunesians — and, his preference, Malayunesians — for the inhabitants of the "Indian Archipelago or Malayan Archipelago". In the same publication, a student of Earl's, James Richardson Logan, used Indonesia as a synonym for Indian Archipelago. However, Dutch academics writing in East Indies publications were reluctant to use Indonesia. Instead, they used the terms Malay Archipelago (Maleische Archipel); the Netherlands East Indies (Nederlandsch Oost Indië), popularly Indië; the East (de Oost); and Insulinde.
After 1900, the name Indonesia became more common in academic circles outside the Netherlands, and Indonesian nationalist groups adopted it for political expression.Adolf Bastian, of the University of Berlin, popularized the name through his book Indonesien oder die Inseln des Malayischen Archipels, 1884–1894. The first Indonesian scholar to use the name was Suwardi Suryaningrat (Ki Hajar Dewantara), when he established a press bureau in the Netherlands with the name Indonesisch Pers-bureau in 1913.

A Borobudur ship carved on Borobudur, c. 800 CE. Indonesian outrigger boats may have made trade voyages to the east coast of Africa as early as the 1st century CE.[15]
Fossils and the remains of tools show that the Indonesian archipelago was inhabited by Homo erectus, popularly known as the "Java Man", between 1.5 million years ago and as recently as 35,000 years ago.[16][17][18] Homo sapiens reached the region by around 45,000 years ago.[19] In 2011 evidence was uncovered in neighbouring East Timor, showing that 42,000 years ago these early settlers had high-level maritime skills, and by implication the technology needed to make ocean crossings to reach Australia and other islands, as they were catching and consuming large numbers of big deep sea fish such as tuna.[20]
Austronesian peoples, who form the majority of the modern population, migrated to South East Asia from Taiwan. They arrived in Indonesia around 2000 BCE, and as they spread through the archipelago, pushed the indigenous Melanesian peoples to the far eastern regions. Ideal agricultural conditions, and the mastering of wet-field rice cultivation as early as the 8th century BCE, allowed villages, towns, and small kingdoms to flourish by the 1st century CE. Indonesia's strategic sea-lane position fostered inter-island and international trade, including links with Indian kingdoms and China, which were established several centuries BCE. Trade has since fundamentally shaped Indonesian history.
 
 
The nutmeg plant is native to Indonesia's Banda Islands. Once one of the world's most valuable commodities, it drew the first European colonial powers to Indonesia.
From the 7th century, the powerful Srivijaya naval kingdom flourished as a result of trade and the influences of Hinduism and Buddhism that were imported with it.[26][27] Between the 8th and 10th centuries, the agricultural Buddhist Sailendra and Hindu Mataram dynasties thrived and declined in inland Java, leaving grand religious monuments such as Sailendra's Borobudur and Mataram's Prambanan. The Hindu Majapahit kingdom was founded in eastern Java in the late 13th century, and under Gajah Mada, its influence stretched over much of Indonesia.[28]
Although Muslim traders first traveled through South East Asia early in the Islamic era, the earliest evidence of Islamized populations in Indonesia dates to the 13th century in northern Sumatra.[29] Other Indonesian areas gradually adopted Islam, and it was the dominant religion in Java and Sumatra by the end of the 16th century. For the most part, Islam overlaid and mixed with existing cultural and religious influences, which shaped the predominant form of Islam in Indonesia, particularly in Java.[30] The first regular contact between Europeans and the peoples of Indonesia began in 1512, when Portuguese traders, led by Francisco Serrão, sought to monopolize the sources of nutmeg, cloves, and cubeb pepper in Maluku.[31] Dutch and British traders followed. In 1602 the Dutch established the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and became the dominant European power. Following bankruptcy, the VOC was formally dissolved in 1800, and the government of the Netherlands established the Dutch East Indies as a nationalized colony.[32]
For most of the colonial period, Dutch control over the archipelago was tenuous outside of coastal strongholds; only in the early 20th century did Dutch dominance extend to what was to become Indonesia's current boundaries.[33] Despite major internal political, social and sectarian divisions during the Indonesian National Revolution, Indonesians, on the whole, found unity in their fight for independence. Japanese occupation during World War II ended Dutch rule,[34][35] and encouraged the previously suppressed Indonesian independence movement.[36] A later UN report stated that four million people died in Indonesia as a result of the Japanese occupation.[37] Two days after the surrender of Japan in August 1945, Sukarno, an influential nationalist leader, declared independence and was appointed president.[38][39][40][41] The Netherlands tried to reestablish their rule, and the resulting conflict ended in December 1949, when in the face of international pressure, the Dutch formally recognized Indonesian independence[39][42] (with the exception of the Dutch territory of West New Guinea, which was incorporated into Indonesia following the 1962 New York Agreement, and the UN-mandated Act of Free Choice of 1969).
 
Sukarno moved Indonesia from democracy towards authoritarianism, and maintained his power base by balancing the opposing forces of the military and the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI).[44] An attempted coup on 30 September 1965 was countered by the army, who led a violent anti-communist purge, during which the PKI was blamed for the coup and effectively destroyed.[45][46][47] Around 500,000 people are estimated to have been killed.[48][49] The head of the military, General Suharto, outmaneuvered the politically weakened Sukarno, and was formally appointed president in March 1968. His New Order administration[50] was supported by the US government,[51][52][53] and encouraged foreign direct investment in Indonesia, which was a major factor in the subsequent three decades of substantial economic growth. However, the authoritarian "New Order" was widely accused of corruption and suppression of political opposition.[34][54][55]
Indonesia was the country hardest hit by the late 1990s Asian financial crisis.[56] This led to popular protest against the New Order which led to Suharto's resignation in May 1998.[57] In 1999, East Timor voted to secede from Indonesia, after a twenty-five-year military occupation that was marked by international condemnation of repression of the East Timorese.[58] Since Suharto's resignation, a strengthening of democratic processes has included a regional autonomy program, and the first direct presidential election in 2004. Political and economic instability, social unrest, corruption, and terrorism slowed progress, however, in the last five years the economy has performed strongly. Although relations among different religious and ethnic groups are largely harmonious, sectarian discontent and violence has occurred.[59] A political settlement to an armed separatist conflict in Aceh was achieved in 2005.

Indonesia Culture
The culture of Indonesia has been shaped by long interaction between original indigenous customs and multiple foreign influences. Indonesia is centrally-located along ancient trading routes between the Far East and the Middle East, resulting in many cultural practices being strongly influenced by a multitude of religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam and Christianity, all strong in the major trading cities. The result is a complex cultural mixture very different from the original indigenous cultures.
Examples of cultural fusion include the fusion of Islam with Hindu in Javanese Abangan belief, the fusion of Hinduism, Buddhism and animism in Bodha, and the fusion of Hinduism and animism in Kaharingan; others could be cited.
Balinese dances have stories about ancient Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms, while Islamic art forms and architecture are present in Sumatra, especially in the Minangkabau and Aceh regions. Traditional art, music and sport are combined in a martial art form called Pencak Silat.
Western culture has greatly influenced Indonesia in science, technology and modern entertainment such as television shows, film and music, as well as political system and issues. India has notably influenced Indonesian songs and movies. A popular type of song is the Indian-rhythmical dangdut, which is often mixed with Arab and Malay folk music.
Despite the influences of foreign culture, some remote Indonesian regions still preserve uniquely indigenous culture. Indigenous ethnic groups Mentawai, Asmat, Dani, Dayak, Toraja and many others are still practicing their ethnic rituals, customs and wearing traditional clothes.


 

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Indonesian music traditional

The music of Indonesia demonstrates its cultural diversity, the local musical creativity, as well as subsequent foreign musical influences that shaped contemporary music scenes of Indonesia. Nearly thousands of Indonesian islands having its own cultural and artistic history and character.[1] This results in hundreds of different forms of music, which often accompanies dance and theatre.


The musics of Java, Sumatra, Bali, Flores and other islands have been documented and recorded, and research by Indonesian and international scholars is ongoing. The music in Indonesia predates historical records, various Native Indonesian tribes often incorporate chants and songs accompanied with musics instruments in their rituals. Today the contemporary music of Indonesia is popular in the region, including neighboring countries; Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

Musical instruments

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.

Gamelan

The most popular and famous form of Indonesian music is probably gamelan, an ensemble of tuned percussion instruments that include metallophones, drums, gongs and spike fiddles along with bamboo flutes. Similar ensembles are prevalent throughout Indonesia and Malaysia, however gamelan is originated from Java, Bali, and Lombok.
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.

With the arrival of the Dutch colonizers, a number system called kepatihan was developed to record the music. Music and dance at the time was divided into several styles based on the main courts in the area — Surakarta, Yogyakarta, Pakualaman and Mangkunegaran.

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.

Kecapi suling

Kecapi suling is a type of instrumental music that is highly improvisational and popular in parts of West Java that employs two instruments, kecapi (zither) and suling (bamboo flute). It is related to tembang sunda.

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.

Kulintang

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.

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.

Tapanuli ogong

Musical performance from Tapanuli area of Batak of North Sumatra. Tapanuli ogong is a form of dance music played with a type of lute, trumpet and flute.

Genres

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.

Folk musics

Indonesian regional folk pop musics reflects the diversity of Indonesian culture and Indonesian ethnicity, 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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
There is a style of kroncong native to Surakarta (Solo) called langgam jawa, which fuses kroncong with the gamelan seven-note scale.
Gambang Kromong
Early in the 20th century, kroncong was used in a type of theater called Komedi Stambul; adapted for this purpose, the music was called gambang kromong. Gambang kromong is quite prevalent in Betawi culture of Jakarta.

Dangdut

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.
Dangdut is based around the singers, and stars include Rhoma Irama and Elvy Sukaesih (the King and Queen of Dangdut), Mansyur S., A. Rafiq, Camelia Malik and Fahmy Shahab; along with Cici Paramida, Evie Tamala, Inul Daratista, Julia Perez and Dewi Perssik from younger generation.

Campursari

A musical fusion style of traditional Javanese music and dangdut that prevalent in Javanese cultural sphere, mainly Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java. There is also Sundanese version of campursari prevalent in Bandung region of West Java. Perhaps its greatest current artist is Didi Kempot.

Contemporary music

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 soundtrack 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]

Orchestra

Western classical music reached Indonesia in the era of Dutch East Indies as early as the 18th century, but it was 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 a concert hall in the 19th century. Classical music has been restricted to the refined, wealthy and educated high class citizen, and never penetrated the rest of the population during the East Indies colonial era. The type of western-derived music that transcended the social barrier at that time was Kroncong, known as lower-class music.
An amateur group called Bataviasche Philharmonic Orchestra was established in Dutch Colonial times. It became the NIROM orchestra when 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.

Pop

Indonesian pop music today is known simply as "pop Indonesia" is heavily influenced by trends and recordings from America.[8] Although influences ranging from Bollywood soundtracks 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.

Today, the popular bands include Peterpan, Radja, Gigi, Dewa 19, Sheila on 7, D'Masiv and Nidji, all of which tour regularly in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia and are featured on MTV Asia.
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 Japan and Korea pop culture. And also sperading new generation of Girl Band, side effect while boyband founded in Indonesia, such a 7icons, Cherry Belle, and also JKT48.

Rock

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.

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. Many kind of jazz hang on in Indonesian Indie's project, such as Ecoutez, Sandy Sandoro and many more "non-label" band or singer. And those music quality are not inferior and compete world class jazz.

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, Eurasians who are originally from Indonesia but they gained popularity in Europe, especially The Netherlands. There style is called Indorock (after the colonial term used for Eurasians: Indo-Europeaan, shortened Indo)
(original source: wikipedia.org)