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The Terminology of Batak Instrumental Music in Northern Sumatra

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 March 2019

Artur Simon
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Extract

In the north of Sumatra lies Lake Toba, 906 meters above sea level and situated on a mountainous plateau which has an area of 1790 square kilometers. The surrounding countryside is the home of the Batak, who number approximately two million people, generally divided into five subgroups: Toba (the largest group), Karo, Simalungun, Pakpak/Dairi and Angkola/Mandailing.1 All speak different dialects and distinguish themselves culturally. Although their music shows common basic elements, there are many differences in detail. Ethnically, the Batak are generally called Proto-Malays, whatever that may be.2 They are Austronesian speakers and belong to the old peoples of the Indonesian Archipelago. About the origin of the Batak (and Nias people as well), a number of speculations and theories of migration have been published and repeated by many authors.3 We agree with the following statement by Parkin:

Despite uncertainties and confusion about the prescise original location, manner and dating of their arrival in Sumatra, all of which are completely undocumented, there is general agreement that the Batak originate from some region of Farther India. The significance of this is that when the Batak arrived in Sumatra, and were subsequently pushed up into the mountains of Tapanuli, they brought a developed culture with them which had certain affinities with that of Greater India. Consequently, when Indians began to arrive in the archipelago at the beginning of our era, they met people with whom cultural contact was not too difficult (1978: 12).

Type
Articles
Information
Yearbook for Traditional Music , Volume 17 , 1985 , pp. 113 - 145
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 by the International Council for Traditional Music

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