Abstract
Gamat is a genre of traditional Minangkabau music which constitutes a hybridization of Melayu, Indian, Minangkabau, and Portuguese musical elements. This music developed in the towns of Padang, Pariaman, Solok, Padang Panjang, and Painan, and other towns in West Sumatra, Indonesia. Today, gamat is still a popular form of entertainment music in the West Sumatra community. This musical ensemble performs melancholic songs in a slow tempo and also lively music ( joget ) in a fast tempo, with metaphoric texts of pantun in the Minangkabau language. This musical composition is based on songs of traditional gamat music, such as Kaparinyo and Joget , which are developed in two forms - in the form of an arrangement, and in ‘contemporary’ form. The arrangement form follows the basic principles of traditional gamat songs with Minangkabau lyrics; the ‘contemporary’ form abandons traditional patterns and introduces new explorative rhythmic patterns and melodies that are enhanced by the use of conventional Western musical instruments with an approach of hybridity. Keywords : Composition of gamat music, hybridity, tradition, arrangement, and contemporary DOI: 10.7176/ADS/95-01 Publication date: September 30 th 2021
Highlights
Gamat is a genre of traditional Minangkabau music that is made up of the hybridization of several cultures, including Melayu, Minangkabau, Indian, and European (Portuguese) cultures
Before the actual performance took place, a performance simulation was held in the form of a general rehearsal. This source of this musical composition is the songs of traditional gamat music, such as Kaparinyo and Joget songs, which are developed in two forms, as an arrangement and in a ‘contemporary' form, in two sections
The arrangement constitutes the first part of the composition; the songs played are Kaparinyo and joget songs, which are arranged in the form of combo band music, played by conventional instruments, including electric guitar, electric keyboard, and a drum set, together with traditional instruments of gamat music such as an accordion, violin, gendang, and tambourine, with lyrics in the Minangkabau language
Summary
Gamat is a genre of traditional Minangkabau music that is made up of the hybridization of several cultures, including Melayu, Minangkabau, Indian, and European (Portuguese) cultures. It originated as a form of Melayu music performed by musicians from various parts of Sumatra to entertain migrants in the port areas of coastal towns in West Sumatra. According to Hendrizal, violins, accordions, and guitars were some of the instrument products of foreign cultures that merged with gamat music Another sign of assimilation can be seen in the scale used in gamat music, which follows the diatonic scale system that is a product of Western culture (Hendrizal, 2012)
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