Page 25 - JaKita 02rd Edition 2021

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ART & CULTURE 25

one plays the music anymore,” he said in his past times, Sampyong music often being played
heavy Betawi accent. to accompany dancers in Baritan or Alm the
Earth ceremony, which aim to deliver offerings
Ki Sumpel, who is very active in Tunas Kelape to the goddess of prosperity,” Yahya said.
Foundation—an organization aims to preserve
the arts and cultures of Betawi in South Jakarta, The music, which will be played to welcome
revealed that it’s hard to find people who harvest time, has value of respecting each other.
preserve Sampyong music. Only a few people “Usually, there is more than a dancer involved in
who would, and they are often elderly. “[They the performance, one is the landlord (jawara)
are] in their 70s, who often do the performance and the other one is the farmer. Although they
of Ujungan or Uncul, accompanied with the have different personalities, when harvest time
Sampyong music,” said he. comes they all are being united and dancing
in the dynamic of Sampyong music,” explained
According to Betawi cultural expert Yahya Yahya.
Andi Saputra, Sampyong music is classified
as rare Betawi music. It even almost become Moreover, Sampyong music has no musical
unknown, since there was no inheritance from notes or scales. It only has five irregular notes.
the previous generation. “Since there was no Even so, Sampyong can be played in harmony
inheritance process, Sampyong music doesn’t with another two music instruments, celempung
grow,” he said to JaKita. and kotekan. “This art can be played in a not
specified duration,” ended Yahya.
Complimentary Music sya

Yahya explained further that Sampyong music
is often played to accompany Uncul Betawi
dance. They need one or more Sampyong
instruments to make the music, with the total
of four bamboo slats in those Sampyongs, also
with kentongan bamboo and buffalo horn.

A dancer with black pangsi pants and black
t-shirt or even shirtless would usually complete
the performance of Sampyong music. “The
music usually being played to accompany
dancers in welcoming harvest time or when
they do farming activities,” Yahya explained.

He said the philosophy behind Sampyong
music is exceptional, for it involves the
ecosystem conservation where the humans
live. “There is a protected ecosystem, the unity
of human with their nature,” said Yahya.

It is estimated that Sampyong music has been
played before Islam entered the nation. “In the

2nd EDITION 2021
2nd EDITION 2021
Sarana I Sarana Informasi Pemerintah Provinsi DKI Jakartanformasi Pemerintah Provinsi DKI Jakarta