Music, the Passion of the Medan People

Music is the passion of the people in Medan city. At a wedding party held by families of ethnic Malay, Karo, Toba, Javanese, Mandailing or even Chinese either at home or a hotel, live music is mandatory.

KOMPAS/AUFRIDA WISMI WARASTRI

Singers and musicians from the music group "The Fame" perform at a wedding party at a hotel in Medan, Sunday, (2/13/2022). Music with a complete accompaniment band is a necessity in a party in Medan City..

The powerful voice of local singer Hendra Pratama Manik (25) filled the hotel ballroom in Medan, North Sumatra, on Sunday afternoon (13/2/2022). The song "To Love You More" which he sang, accompanied by The Fame band, livened up the atmosphere of the wedding party at the hotel. The people at the party felt so intimate.

“Usually, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the host asks for slow songs, both Indonesian and foreign, to make the situation more formal. At about Around 2 p.m. until closing at 5 p.m. it is free,” said Eko Lore (27), the host of the event.

Usually in the afternoon, all genres of popular songs are performed, including rock, folk songs or even dangdut. Guests also sing and sway at the party. Joyful songs such as “The Children of Medan”, “Jamila”, “Don't Listen to Bird Stories”, “Poco-Poco” (Maluku), “Gemu Fa Mi Re” (East Nusa Tenggara) and “Go Home Uda" (Minang) have become mandatory songs at every wedding party. Rhythmic and cheerful songs fill the party room.

Cheerful songs of the ethnics groups in Medan, such as Batak Toba, Karo, Simalungun, Mandailing, Malay, Javanese, Minang and Nias, fill the party room, making guests sway, binding the multicultural residents of Medan.

KOMPAS/NIKSON SINAGA

Music groups sing various songs at a wedding ceremony at Wisma GKPI Sriwijaya, Medan, North Sumatra, Saturday (12/2/2022). Music is very closely related to the daily life of the people of Medan City. The singers were accompanied by traditional and modern musical instruments, such as sulim (traditional flute), gondang (drum) and keyboard. .

At a party, dozens of people can sing on stage. “Medan people are singers. They can control the stage if no restriction is imposed, but such enthusiasm livens up the wedding atmosphere," said Eko, a journalist who has been a master of a ceremonies at wedding parties since 2010.

The music is so exciting that the guests stay and don't want to leave the party. Even at a standing party, many guests stay at the party enjoying the music and waiting to perform.

At the Wisma GKPI Sriwijaya meeting hall, Medan city on Saturday (12/2), the music was so exciting. Although the bride and groom had not yet entered the party room, the band had already performed a number of songs. The singers were accompanied by traditional and modern musical instruments, such as sulim (traditional flute), gondang (drum) and keyboard.

The Situmorang Music Group, with traditional clothes and a sortali headband, performed at the main door welcoming the bride and the guests. The sound of music boomed from dozens of loudspeakers in a 20 meter x 80 meter room.

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Women in the traditional kebaya blouse combined with sarongs and ulos scarves spontaneously danced in front of the main door of the building. "When I hear Batak music like this, I spontaneously move my body and dance," said Lamtiur Sitanggang (45), one of the guests.

A similar situation can also be seen at a wedding party held by residents on the outskirts of Medan city. The wedding party in the yard of a house in Sampali on Sunday (13/2), for example, was entertained by a group of singers. The Batak song entitled "Orang Tiga", which was popularized by the Nabasa Trio stirred the visitors to dance.

Guests sang and swayed in a 6 m x 15 m tent. Even though the bride's family is Javanese, Batak Toba, Karo, Minang songs and Western songs were mostly performed. "Even though I'm Javanese, I can sing popular ethnic songs from almost all regions," said Irma Fahri (33), a singer at the wedding party.

KOMPAS/NIKSON SINAGA

Music groups sing various songs at a wedding ceremony at Wisma GKPI Sriwijaya, Medan, North Sumatra, Saturday (12/2/2022)..

Must be good

Aris Mulyawan (45), the bride's family, said that even though the wedding party was simple, the music had to be good. They hired singers and the music group for Rp 2 million. At the hotel, the payment for the musical performance can reach Rp 15 million, depending on the number of musicians, instruments, and sound system. Mika Astari, owner of Miss Planner wedding organizer, said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, guests were required to follow health protocols. Apart from the main singers, only one or two people could be allowed to perform on the stage. The singers should also bring their own microphones.

A similar health protocol should also be implemented in other parties, such as during an event to celebrate a birthday and a marriage proposal. According to Mika, 99 percent of clients ask for live music to perform at the party.

Traditional music artist Hendri Warin-Angin, who is also in charge of music at the North Sumatra Taman Budaya cultural center said that music performances including those from various ethnic genres cannot be separated from the wedding party in Medan. "It is impossible for me to hold a party, but neighbors who are Nias, Malay, Batak, Javanese are not invited," said Hendri.

Old tradition

For the urban community in Medan, music is performed not only during birthday celebrations but also at funeral ceremonies. In the marriage tradition of Toba and Karo Bataks, the speech of the representative of the host family should be preceded and ended by music from "Pargonci" in Toba or "Tonggual" in Karo. Not to mention the tradition of performing a manortor dance, which is still commonly held in the city of Medan.

Professor of the Ethnomusicology Study Program at the University of North Sumatra, Mauly Purba, said the lives of people in Medan were closely related to music because they came from various ethnic groups in which music had become part of their tradition. "People from the village then mingle with people in plantations around Medan, where music is the main entertainment," he said.

Everyone is aware that music can bridge differences.

With a very strong musical background coming from various ethnic groups, Medan is like a music city. This makes many Medan residents master a number of musical instruments.

Everyone is aware that music can bridge differences. A party is a way to celebrate life together, even though now you have to wear a mask and keep your distance.

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.