The Last Gondang; Ritual Manyulangi

POST-GRADUATE PROGRAM

SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY

THE LAST GONDANG

PRESENTED BY :

AVENA MATONDANG

18 October 2010

Resume

Until recently the use of music in cultural rituals become an interesting study, since it is a means of artistic expression and evaluation of a community. Gondang as the medium of ritual music Parmalim society plays an important role as an intermediary for the relationship between humans and gods, ritual context Manyulangi describes a hobo community ritual as the highest form of respect towards parents, Manyulangi is a means of giving thanks by a child to the parent organization with the main requirement lies in no interruption of family relationships (death of children and grandchildren make this ritual can not be implemented).Gondang repertoire played a repertoire Ihutan Bolon demand as the supreme leader of the community Parmalim, like in the video there is a repertoire titled 'Gondang Debata' or Gondang to God as a symbol of respect to God and as a request to God for parents to be on God's side if the future died.

Abstract

This paper will discuss about the scope of ritual use of music in society who are in Hutatinggi Parmalim - North Sumatra, Indonesia. Music and ritual are two interrelated aspects of a culture that is common on Indonesian cultures, about this Merriem defines it :


“The uses and functions of music represent one of the most important problems…not only fot the descriptive facts about music, but, more important, fot the meaning of the music. Descriptive facts, while in themselves of importance, make their most significant contribution when they are applied to broader problems of understanding of the phenomenon which has been described…to know not only what a thing is, but, more significantly, what it does for people and how it does it (1964:209)."

Departing from this understanding, use and function of music has a significant role in a form of society and has a focus on the description of culture through the element music. To gain a through understanding about the use and function of music in a culture then used 'tools' that is the visual media (video), use of visual media is the right tool for expression and analyze a culture in order to avoid an imagination about it, Howard Morphy and Marcus Banks describes it:


"As methods, visual anthropology is in the first instance of a flag, a reminder observable that is that much, much that cans be learned about a culture recorded cans be most effectively and comprehensively through film, photography or by drawing (1999:14). "

In addition, the delivery of visually represents a process of fulfilling the need of time as expressed Pink:

"Images are 'everywhere'. They permeate our academic work, everyday lives, conversations and dreams (...). They are inextricably interwoven with our personal identities, narratives, lifestyles, cultures and societies, as well as with definitions of history, space and truth. Likewise ethnographic research is intertwined with the visual images and metaphors. When ethnographers produce photographs or video, these visual texts, as well as the experience of producing and discussing them, changed from part of Their ethnographic knowledge (2001:17). "

And as an affirmation that:

"Video is undoubtedly good visual fur 'note-taking' but Such uses ought to be qualified with a rejection of the naïve assumption that video records an untainted reality in favour of a reflexive approach that accounts for how video cans changed from part of a focus group discussion or interview (2001:87).

Introduction to major in building construction is the definition of Gondang understanding that can be interpreted as percussion instruments/drum and has its own notes on each of Gondang, where the device consists of Gondang ensamle; Gondang Sabangunan (5 parts Gondang/drums), Hesek (instrumentation holder tempo of iron or bottles), Sarune Bolon (wind instrument), Gong (gong chime). In the area musicologist, Gondang is a set of musical instruments, but the definition of culture on Gondang interpreted as a symbol of kinship, age level. Moving on from the definition of a musicologist and cultural Gondang the understanding of video objects serve as the fundamental basis to know the ritual Manyulangi as an extension of it. Ritual briefly defined as the process of a traditional ceremony which was followed by a group of people as members of traditional cultures, the focus of this ritual has to do with Manyulangi, which in the concept of Batak society is fed food and drink to the child's parents as a sign of devotion to parents, while also valuable as an embodiment to release the parents' sincere attitude when died. Batak society Manyulangi see ritual as a part of life's journey that must be marked by the holding of the ceremony, a video presentation of the material in the context of this description shows the things associated with it.

Key words: Ritual, Manyulangi, Music, Videos

Systematics video

The opening video begins with images of natural conditions Hutatinggi followed by a short description of the ritual Manyulangi on Parmalim community. Illustration is provided through a series of visual moment of the journey towards Hutatinggi are realized through the houses and fields. The initial part of the explanation starts from 'Ritual Manyulangi' which gives a description of the ritual process Manyulangi, visual moment is followed on the visual moment of delivery by the relatives of the organizers Manyulangi ritual form of rice, where rice is a symbol of prosperity for the people Parmalim. The next section is about the music Gondang as 'limits' in the ritual repertoire Manyulangi which played a repertoire that was asked by Ihutan Bolon to Pargonsi (lit. Pargocci [Gordang players]). As a final visual description given photographs Manyulangi ritual process as part of the overall data.

Conclusions

Ritual and music as a corelative in Parmalim community

Ritual Manyulangi as part of rites of passages and to giving thanks to parents

Visual media (video) presentation of the material in the context of this description shows the things associated with it

Bibliography

Banks, Marcus & Howard Morphy. 1999. Rethinking Visual Anthropology. Yale University Press : London and New Haven

Merriam P, Allan. 1964. The Anthropology of Music. Northwest University: Evanston - Illinois

Pink, S. 2001. Doing Visual Ethnography. Sage Publication: London