tracks

Mares: Fiddle, Plucked Lute, Flute, Drums
Lagu Togal: As Track 1, With Female Vocal
Kalabae: Genre: Engafuka. Male Vocals, Drums
Tuang Kolatu (Excerpt) Genre: Aten. Female Vocal Duo
Tigertama: Jew's Harp
Perusi Tajang: As Track 5
Ranafafan: Genre: Sawat. Gongs, Drums
Marin Uib: Children's Song (Solo & Chorus)
Wannar: Genre: Sosoi. Woman's Chorus
Tiwal Sawat: Genre: Tiwal. Flute, Drums, Gong
Snehet (Excerpt): Male Vocal Solo
Ngel-Ngel (Excerpt): Male Vocal Duo
Ngel-Ngel: Female Soloist & Chorus, Drum
Baiut Ntya Nit: Male Vocal Solo
Sosoi (First Song): Female Chorus
Tari Busur Panah: Flute, Drum
Dzikir Samman: Allahu Allah: Male Singers, Drums
Qasidah Rifai: Baghdadi (Excerpt): As Track 17
Kata Syeh: Baqada Imuhai: As Track 17

notes

Extensive notes and map complement these remarkable recordings.

Musically, the vast province of Maluku ("the Moluccas") is one of the least-known regions of Indonesia. Here we present music from three islands: Halmahera in the north, Buru in the center, and Kei Besar in the south. From Halmahera comes togal, entertainment music played on stringed instruments plus flute, drums, and a singer. From Buru we offer a varied selection: men's songs with drumming, an excerpt from a night-long sung narrative, jew's harp pieces, and a gong ensemble. Aside from two ensembles of flute and percussion, our recordings from Kei Besar are mainly voca: solos, a duo, and choruses offering advice, recounting history, and asserting territorial boundaries (an important use for songs in Maluku); there is also a rowing song sung by children. Finally we return to Halmahera and present selections from a dabus performance accompanied by singing and frame drums. In dabus, a Muslim ritual derived from Sufi practice, men stab themselves vigorously with iron awls, but the spiritual power of the ritual leader protects them from serious injury.

HALMAHERA: Musicians of Desa Malapa, Kecamatan Makian. Genre: togal

BURU: Musicians of Kampung Waereman, Kecamantan Buru Utara Barat.

KEI: Musicians of Watlaar, Haar, and Banda Eli, three villages in the northern part of Kei Besar.
(tracks 13-16): Musicians of Desa Sather, in the southern part of Kei Besar.

HALMAHERA: Dabus officiants and musicians in Desa Talaga, Kecamatan Ibu.

credits

Recorded By, Compiled By, Liner Notes [Annotated By] – Philip Yampolsky

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