C2 Ramadan-albumlebaran

C3 Ramadan-albumlebaran2.pdf

May be old vinyl is really dead. When a prominent Indonesia newspaper publish reviews on 10 Best Lebaran (Ied el-Fithr) Songs in 2011, public did not respond explicitely on such features. We don’t know why?

But there are many speculations. First, that review was coming not in proper time — in holiday season when the people did not read newspaper. Second, Lebaran song is not something interested. Third, the review is about old vinyl which is something out of fashion. Are these reasons reasonable? What do you think?

Album Dakotjan by Idris Sardi Orchestra, Bali record, 1970-ies

Idris Sardi is a maestro violinist par exellence. Fortunately that he has his attention to children song.  One of his works, beside album Ninabobo, is Dakotjan. Published by Bali record in 1970-ies, this album is such rare item. In here Idris Sardi conducted an orchestra and a children choirs to interpret 8 children songs composed by Indonesians such as Pak Kasur, Ibu Sud, Lim Keng Liong, and Kwartet Sariman. The songs are: Dakotjan, Lihat Kebunku, Naik Delman, Ajam Berkotek, Burung Kutilang, Kukurujuk, Amin dengan Kerbaunja, and Bungaku.

This album is also unique, because Idris Sardi blended modern instruments with local instrument called angklung. This instrument is made of bamboo which crafted to produce sounds. Even the angklung which is used  here already modifed as “piano angklung” to the so-called “dikso-phone”. Diks is the name of the inventor of Dikso-phone. Curious? Check this album. *

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 11,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 4 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Album Tahu Tempe, by Oslan Hussein, Irama.

Single Hari Lebaran, by Didi, composed by Ismail Marzuki, Irama.

Lebaran, or Idul Fitri festival is most important moment for Indonesian Moslems. It is a happy moment after fasting almost 30 days long. In this moment, people celebrate a winning moment for spiritual cultivating. And usually, music and Islamic song is part of this festival. Some musicians are aware of this such moment for composing song which express happiness and joyful. Some of the songs are memorable and almost become national anthem, since those songs always been heard in public space, such as mall, plaza and shopping centers.

I try to find out Ten Best Lebaran Songs, off course among my personal collections. And the result is:

1.Lebaran, composed by M. Jusuf, interpretated by singer Oslan Hussein, taken from album Tahu Tempe by Oslan Hussein, with a band Orkes Widjaja Kusuma under direction M. Jusuf, published by Irama, no date releasing.

2. Hari Lebaran, composed by Ismail Marzuki, interpretated by singer Didi, with a band Orkes Mus Mualim, a single LP, published by Irama, no date releasing.

3. Raihlah Kemenangan, composed by Elfa and Wieke Gur, interpretated by Elfa’s Singers, with a band Elfa Seciora, taken from album Lebaran, published by PT Aquarius Musicindo, 2004.

4. Joged Lebaran composed by Oslan Hussein, interpretated by Elfa’s Singers, with a band Elfa Seciora, taken from album Lebaran, published by PT Aquarius Musicindo, 2004.

5. Selamat Idul Fitri, composed by A. Mustofa Bisri and Neno Warisman, interpretated by Neno Warisman, music and arrangement by Dwiki Dharmawan, taken from album Tembang Lebaran under music director Dwiki Dharmawan, published by Sony Music, 1999.

6. Idul Fitri, composed by Tompi, interpretated by Tompi, taken from album Soulful Ramadhan by Tompi, published by e-Motion, 2010.

7. Fajar 1 Syawal, composed by Wandi and usep Romli, interpretated by Bimbo, Yanti Bersaudara, Lingga Binangkit, taken from album Wudhu, by Bimbo, published by Musica, 1990.

8. Lebaran, composed by Rhoma Irama. Interpretated by Rhoma Irama, taken from album Lebaran Bersama Soneta, published by Pelangi Record, no date releasing.

9. Lebaran, composed by Ibeng and AB. Utomo, interpretated by Osby, Ibeng, Aditya Gumay, AB Utomo, Sita and Nuke, arrangement: Agus Hendra Jaya, taken from album Nada & Dakwah by Garis, published Ceepee, 2000-ies.

10. Idul Fitri, composed by Tri Utami and Analta, interpretated by singer Gito Rollies, taken from album Tembang Lebaran under music director Dwiki Dharmawan, published by Sony Music, 1999. *

The daily Koran Tempo (Jakarta, Indonesia) publish a brief review on Ten Selected  Indonesian Pop Islamic Albums (10 Album Pop Religius Islamis Terpilih) to day (August, 8, 2011). This newspaper did not rank the lists, and did not use the term “best album”, because of any reasons.

As far as my memory, so far there was no such Indonesia media ever publish the list of best Islamic pop music album, due to lack of music libraries in this country. So this such effort should be appreciated by all stakeholders of Indonesia music — especially musicians and goverment. *

But actually, their contribution to the history of Indonesian music was giant. So far untill 1985, they released 7 albums. So it is such a blessing in disguisse if their group was called Giant Step, since this band’ works was such a giant step for Indonesian music. It is because Giant Step was a leading band which introduced progressive rock genre for Indonesian music lovers, beside Guruh Gypsy (1976), and Harry Roesli (1971 ect).

LP album "Persada Tercinta" by Giant Step, Irama Tara, 1978

It is undeniable that Giant Step music was influenced by prog-rock and rock music from the west in that era, notably Gentle Giant, and Frank Zappa. One of band member ever quoted as saying in Rolling Stone Indonesia magazine that his music was influenced by Gentle Giant and Frank Zappa. Even Giant Step ever release a pop-rock album, but their best albums was still the prog-rock ones (Giant on the Move, and Kukuh Nan Teguh).

We have one LP of Giant Step album entitled Persada Tercinta (released by Irama Tara, 1978). Listening to this album, the people who are familiar to the music of Gentle Giant, they will remember the relatively same atmosphere between the two. Off course not identical. *

Reference: 1. Book “Musisiku”, Republika and KPMI, 2007; 2. Rolling Stone Indonesia magazine

Album Keagungan Tuhan, by A. Kadir (Lokanta, 1970-ies, CD version 1980-ies)

Album Menanti Musafir by A. Kadir (Lokananta, 1970-ies, CD version 1990-ies)

Lokananta lovers now can get old Indonesia albums released by Lokananta in CD format. These CD’s are sold in some stores in Yogyakarta, such Popeye Store in Mataram street, and Mirota Batik in Malioboro street. On January 2011, I bought two albums of A. Kadir entetitled Keagungan Tuhan, and Menanti Musafir. These two albums originally released in LP format on 1970-ies, and may be cassettes. This CD version was rereleased by Perum PNRI Surakarta, local government agent for state printing on 1980-ies. So it is not something new. But it is supposedly that when those albums was rereleased, public were not yet being aware on such old albums. So the albums were not succes commercially. Fortunately, that in these years, the  situation  is different.  Some people start to like such old Indonesian songs as we can see after an organization KPMI start to pay attention on old Indonesian recorded music.

These two albums are truly superb recording. It consists of Melayu songs in term of traditional genre.  This  Melayu  song  is  a second  evolution of Melayu music before later on become dangdut. Mostly the songs composed by A. Kadir and interpretated by singer Ida Laila. The music sounded traditional, and the band was a traditional Orkes Melayu — with acoustic bass ect. The key  works:  Keagungan Tuhan, and Malam Pengantin. *

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.

Crunchy numbers

The average container ship can carry about 4,500 containers. This blog was viewed about 22,000 times in 2010. If each view were a shipping container, your blog would have filled about 5 fully loaded ships.

In 2010, there were 10 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 181 posts. There were 13 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 3mb. That’s about a picture per month.

The busiest day of the year was August 31st with 167 views. The most popular post that day was My Album on iTunes.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were search.conduit.com, en.wordpress.com, madrotter.blogspot.com, piringanhitam.blogspot.com, and google.co.id.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for piringan hitam, oma irama, gombloh, rhoma irama, and koes plus.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

My Album on iTunes March 2009
2 comments

The man behind April 2008
26 comments

King of Dangdut December 2008
2 comments

Koes Plus: The Second Album February 2009
1 comment

Qasidah of Ucok AKA December 2009

Fenty Effendy's album, Irama, no date.

Fenty Effendy is the Indonesian singer who begins her career at13 years old in 1965. A television pruducer find her singing in Kota Bandung, and brought her to perform in TVRI firstly on March 1965 with a band Quartet Eka Djaja under direction Rudi Rosadi. After that first television show, publisher Irama, the leading recording company which publish such Oslan Hussain reputation, recorded Fenty Effendy’s album entitled “Paturaj”.

There are 12 songs: Harapan Ibu (Fenty effendi), Paturaj (Kosaman Djaja), Sarinah (Rudi Rosadi), Naik Kelas  (F Rorimpandey), Relakan Aku (F Rorympandey), Sapu Njere Pegat Simpaj (Sambas), Historia D’an Amor, Hari Gembira (A. Salis), Tanpa daksa (Mang koko), bandung Selatan di waktu malam (Ismail marzuki), Burung merpati (Kosaman Djaja), dan Tidurlah Adikku (Fenty effendy).

I am not familiar with Fenty Effendy, but this album is collectable, for some reasons:

1. The band Medenasz under direction Dimas Wahab is the popular name, especially Dimas Wahab is the man behind the success of Yanti bersaudara.

2. There are songs composed by some leading composers such as ismail Marzuki, Sambas, mang Koko and so on.

3. The music and arrangement are well-crafted.

4. The quality of the sound and recording is superb.

I post this album to day, to celebrate KPMI, the community of Indonesian music lovers, which  celebrate the 5 anniversary.  This organisation has a deep concern to the recorded Indonesian musics. *