PADANG - Talempong, an intangible national cultural heritage from West Sumatra, has existed since the 13th century and is played using two techniques: held in hand (dipacik) and arranged in a wooden frame.
As of November 22, 2022, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology reported that out of approximately 11,622 registered arts and cultural products, 1,728 have been designated as national intangible cultural heritage.
These take various forms, such as performing arts, traditional crafts, oral traditions, cuisine, and more. One of these intangible cultural heritages is talempong, a metal percussion instrument from West Sumatra.
According to Margaret Joy Kartomi, an emeritus professor of ethnomusicology from Monash University, Australia, talempong likely entered Minangkabau in the 13th century, coinciding with the spread of Islam in the region.
In her 1998 research report, "Musical Strata in Sumatra, Java, and Bali," Kartomi suggested that talempong and gongs were brought to the archipelago by bronze craftsmen from Tonkin, northern Vietnam.
The sound of this percussion instrument captivated the ruler of the Pagaruyung Kingdom, King Adityawarman, and was initially played only to welcome royal guests. Over time, talempong became a symbol of prestige and grandeur for the Pagaruyung kings.
Talempong is made of a mixture of copper, white tin, and white iron, shaped into cylinders. It has a diameter of 17-18 centimeters and a height of 8.5-9 cm, with the top and bottom parts differing in size. The instrument features a knob or pencu on the top and a hollow bottom. The metal's thickness ranges from 3-4 millimeters.
At first glance, talempong resembles the large gong (aguang) or the small gong (bonang) used in gamelan performances. It is played similarly, struck with a small wooden stick. The sound quality of talempong depends on its metal composition; the higher the copper content, the better the sound.
According to the Directorate General of Culture's website, talempong has integrated into Minangkabau's cultural life and is played during special events. It is typically performed alongside other traditional Minangkabau instruments, such as drums, saluang (flutes), and sarunai (horns).
Talempong often sets the tempo for the music being played, much like salt in a dish; a dance performance or traditional event is incomplete without it.
There are two ways to play talempong: traditional (interlocking) and modern techniques. Both produce pentatonic notes, characteristic of traditional musical instruments.
In the traditional technique, talempong is played by three people, each holding two talempong vertically. The left hand holds the instruments, with the top piece gripped between the thumb and index finger, and the bottom piece supported by the middle, ring, and pinky fingers. The index finger separates the two pieces, producing a clear sound.
The right hand holds and strikes the talempong with a stick, known as the dipacik or held technique. In West Sumatra, this is known as talempong pacik, with three types based on their sound: talempong jantan (male), talempong batino (female), and talempong pengawin (linking).
According to the National Intangible Cultural Heritage website, talempong jantan combines the lowest and highest notes to create a complete sound, while talempong batino plays variable notes depending on the melody, such as the second and fourth or third and fifth notes.
Talempong pengawin, also called paningkah, connects the notes of talempong jantan and talempong batino, creating harmony without clashing.
This type of talempong is often used in processions or to welcome guests, with players walking and holding the instruments in their hands. The talempong players are usually joyous, immersed in the dynamic harmony of the notes.
Interestingly, each talempong can weigh up to 1 kilogram, yet players hold them throughout performances that last at least 10 minutes. Typically, talempong pacik players are over 40 years old, as the playing technique is less appealing to younger generations.
In contrast, the modern technique is easier for players since the talempong is placed in a rectangular wooden frame with individual compartments, known as rancakan, holding 8-20 units arranged in two rows by pitch.
The talempong is secured with wires or steel cables attached to the wooden frame, preventing them from falling. Asri MK, a lecturer in Karawitan Arts at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts Padang Panjang, explained in "Learning Talempong Unggan Music Based on Literature" that this setup makes playing easier.
Asri noted that players can move their hands more freely to strike the talempong arranged in the rancakan, despite keeping the mallets about 10 cm above the knobs. "Both hands can move dynamically to play the melodies. The flexibility of the arms is key since this type of talempong is played at twice the speed of other types," he said.
This type of talempong, known as talempong unggan (named after a jorong in Sumpur Kudus District, Sijunjung Regency), is usually played while seated. Many young Minangkabau people have learned to play this type, and it is often included as an extracurricular activity in schools.
Talempong is commonly seen at events such as weddings (baralek gadang), silat performances, or accompanying the Gelombang Dance. Young composer Agung Perdana from West Sumatra revealed in a recent cultural preservation discussion in Padang that talempong can blend with various music genres like jazz, pop, blues, and even rock.
He has demonstrated this by performing in 12 countries and having jam sessions with local music groups in diverse genres. (indonesia.go.id/anton setiawan)
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