Why Indonesian is less enthusiastic about classical Music
Classical music, with history, made an impact for several centuries, and the composers played a big role in the impact own revolutionary development of theory scale theory such as major and minor scales. This theory is fundamental for a beginner learner and not just theory classical music sparked composers like Ludwig Van Beethoven to create this piece because sought his emotion for rebellion with pain, and his piece as his existence to bring Joy and spirit in Symphony №9 (Ode to Joy). today classical music rapidly becoming a global music phenomenon, and the authentic part is how classical music united people from diverse backgrounds around the world.
While classical music has reached history and has had a significant impact, it’s important to recognize that classical music is not easy listening for everyone because of its complexity and difficult structures. Having grown up and was born in Indonesia, I’ve observed that classical music doesn’t seem to be enjoyable and enthusiastic like a few genres like rock, jazz, and pop Also Indonesia has a lot of culture and landscape which through empiric observation has led me to understand why Indonesian people why music classic is less enthusiasm and here we go I will elaborate my speculation
1. The differences of Structure Music and Culture
The complexity of the structure of classical music arises from the diverse elements of dynamics, tempo, rhythm, and history. Classical music originated in European countries and may exhibit different characteristics. For instance, classical music from Italy is different from Russian.
Indonesian country is rich in diversity with 742 languages and 478 tribes, Each tribe has its own unique history and cultural expression. Indonesian traditional Music and instruments are also connected to ritual ceremonies.
The differentiation between European and Indonesian musical traditions is about Percussion Commonly often takes center stage as a music accompanist with many types of notes and pentatonic scale, while the melody is commonly created through vocal sound. Generally, woodwind instruments often provide a secondary layer of melody.
In regions like Java, you’ll find traditional music called “sinden”, A “Sinden” female singer is known for delivering their melody with a unique vibrato, and they are accompanied by gamelan musicians, more commonly referred to as “pradangga” or “yoga” who play authentic notes a range play authentic notes on a range of traditional instruments.
“ gamelan jawa membawa imajinasi asosiatif seperti gema dari ketenangan kompelatif bain dunia jawa, ketenangan yang menyembunyikan berlapis-lapis nuansa yang penuh rahasia, tapi juga menunjukan ketundukan yang tentram dalam struktur masyarakat yang hierarkis-aritokkratis
Bambang sugiharto
English ver
Javanese gamelan carries an associative imagination, resembling an echo of the inner comparative tranquility within the Javanese world. This tranquility conceals layers of subtle nuances while also reflecting a peaceful submission within the hierarchical-aristocratic structure of society”
In South Sumatra, the Batak tribe has had “taganing” where percussion instruments play the center role in playing the melody, Taganing consists of 5 instruments with 5 notes and is known for its fast tempo Taganing often plays as a rhythm and melody. “taganing” have an accompanist, the instrument comes from the hammer that is truck at the iron so as make a loud sound and the sound becomes a tempo beat.
In East Indonesian particularly in Nusa Tenggara Timur ( east Nusa south) can be found the Sasando the instrument from Kupang played by plucking with the fingers. In common sasando played as singing accompaniment, accompanying the ceremony of rituals and I’ll thought the Sasando was the most beautiful instrument ever seen.
The uniqueness of Nusa Tenggara Timur also have a traditional dance called “Lego-Lego” and It comes from Alor village, Their music is just not made from the instruments they are also made from “bells” that tight up in their ankle. While they( man and woman) sing and form a circle while they dance the bells also make a sound which is becoming a rhythm
people in Indonesia grow up with cultural heritage making them recognize traditional music rather than classical music from the Europeans.
In my opinion, the complexity of classical music is not exclusive to European composition; Indonesian music also has a hard structure, However, sadly :(, Indonesian traditional music does not have a documentary like a piece of sheet music, Traditional music in Indonesia usually learns verbal, watch, and learn from the guru.
2. Austrian Composer/ Classical Era (1750–1820)
In the 1700s-1800 era, music had a profound renewal from the system orchestra till found the music chamber, This renewal for the playing process tried to emphasize the variation dynamics and the standard in orchestra ( found in the romantic era); and to explore the spectrum in timbre. and the composers in the classical era like Mozart ( 1756–1791), Hydn( 1732–1809), and Beethoven (1770–1827) tried to create a complex mood for balancing the harmony and the dynamic crescendo and decrescendo widely used and the Classical era created variation movement especially sonata and symphony and the and variation have enlarged a the like A became A1 and B became B2 for explore the mood not just only affection mood but many moods.
Variations A-B and the theme make a composer more expressive for exploring the mood and it makes a common person who searches and listens and search about classical music practically feel a “bored, sleepy” sensation and makes a bad or “not comfortable music zone” intrepertation.
3. Classical Music needs time and money to understand
Ode to joy for commonly people was heard it maybe give a comfortable expression and a nice introduction to classical music, but if common people hear Symphony №9 by Beethoven maybe they would “not like or overlook” the structure, and likely the people who understand the symphony no.9 by Beethoven they have learned or listened for a couple of times.
Classical music is an expensive hobby in Indonesia because the instrument and the “material” are hard to understand, and that is why a big perception of the classical genre who can learn it for wealthy people.
And that’s how to understand if a person likes something must go into deep to understand the meaning of it all and about is about the cost.
So the enthusiasm for classical music is not for all people but the variation of the color from any culture and tribe can spread around the world. Anyway on Independence Indonesian day the music is played by classical instruments and tribal instruments and the choral sing with traditional clothes from any province in Indonesia, it is beautiful and I love the diversity being unity.
Thanks for reading.
Reference
Sugiharto, Bambang . Untuk Apa Seni. Pustaka Matahari, 2015
Art by me
Wenz_to_when
