Jakarta, Oct 9 (Antara) - A blend of western-originated Country Music and Asian traditional melodies 'hypnotized' the audience during the Sawahlunto International Music Festival (SIMFES) 2016 held in Sawahlunto, west Sumatra, October 7-8 last week.
The local government, in this case Sawahlunto's Tourism and Culture Service, organized the festival as part of its annual agenda to preserve traditional arts and culture.
To help enliven it, organizers invited artists and singers to the festival that featured a blend of western and Asian music styles. The event was made livelier by the Country Music presented by Popular singer Tantowi Yahya with the 'Old Friends' music group. It was also livened up with the 'Kingdom of Daykanyama' of Japan and the 'JE Ensamble' of Bengkulu Province.
The festival, which was witnessed by about 5,000 people was able to mesmerize the audience. After all, a cabinet minister did not want to miss the joyful event, contributing his golden voice that fascinated the spectators.
"Tantowi was accompanied by the music group The Old Friends," Syukri SSn, the music group manager, said in Sawahlunto.
The presence of the Country Music musicians was able to entice the residents of Sawahlunto City and of other regions, particularly lovers of the Country Music which was created by North American Migrants about 300 years ago.
Lovers of traditional music, both domestic and foreign, came to the festival to reflect their deep understanding of the importance of preserving the cultural arts the Sawahluto Tourism and Culture Service has intensively promoted so far.
The people's appreciation of traditional arts-based music is reflected in the various works that meet the taste of world music lovers. These include the Country Music which is supported by several music instruments of various countries such guitar of Spain, violin of Ireland, the Dulcimer stringed musical instrument of Germany and the banjo of Africa.
"Besides that of Tantowi, there were also several other traditional music groups from abroad and home such as the 'Kingdom of Daykanyama' of Japan and the 'JE Ensemble' of Bengkulu Province," said Syukri.
This all fascinated the audience of the SIMFES 2016 in the West Sumatran district town of Sawahlunto.
According to curator of SIMFES 2016, Edi Utama, since it was launched in 2010, the festival has been able to present a diverse range of artistic traditions from different parts of the world.
"At first glance, the event seemed like a form of jazz music but, in fact, it featured a musical composition using various kinds of traditional arts," he explained.
The SIMFES 2016 was unique as it featured not just traditional musicians but actually represented art forms from each of the continents. There was Country Music by Tantowi and the Old Friends that represented the western region, but then it also involved collaboration with music groups and traditions from Japan, called the "Kingdom of Daykanyama."
There was also traditional music typical of eastern parts of Japan wherein the artists used Chordophone and musical instruments such as violin, guitar and Aerophone, or the Accordion.
Adding to the hilarity of the festival was the presence of Manpower Minister Hanif Dakiri who contributed songs to the enthralled audience.
Minister Hanif appearing along with Tantowi and the Old Friends was a special attraction for visitors who thronged the Sawahlunto Triangle Square, the venue for the music festival that embodies the traditional music genres of the archipelago and the world.
Appearing as a vocalist and singing the song 'Bento,' the work of the renowned Indonesian music artist Iwan Fals, Minister Hanif lent a special energy to the event.
Tantowi Yahya, who is a country musician and a guest artist at the SIMFES 2016, set the tone, saying, "Besides knowing Hanif Dakiri as a minister, I also know him as a person who can sing very well."
With that, he requested Hanif to come on the main stage at the opening of the national traditional music performance on Friday night (Oct7).
He appreciated the musical performance, organized as part of the annual agenda of the local Tourism and Culture Service. It was one of the most unique and entertaining performances reflecting the development of traditional music styles in the country.
According to him, such activities provide space and opportunity for traditional music artists to make their mark even as modern music rules the roost.
"Hopefully, such a unique event nurtured by this town in the form of SIMFES would bring tremendous benefits to the musicians, the government and the Sawahlunto community itself," he underlined.
In the meantime, Head of the Sawahlunto Tourism and Culture Service, Efri Yanto said the SIMFES event was the seventh of its kind held in the city and was intended to increase the arrivals of tourists.
"We predict that about 5,000 visitors came to Sawahlunto to witness the festival. Besides witnessing the appearance of national and world traditional arts performances, they also felt the nuance of a city which is a remnant of the 17th century civilization," he said.
For the organizing of the event, the Sawahlonto Tourism and Culture Service cooperated with a number of travel bureaus to sell the SIMFES 2016 tourism packages.
West Sumatra Province's artist Shandra Qienan said the efforts of the local government to organize the festival was positive and strategic for preserving traditional arts and for developing the local tourism.
"The interesting thing is that the appearance of 'keroncong' (popular Indonesian music originating from Portuguese song) music groups. It shows that traditional music has begun to develop and has competitiveness against modern music," noted Shandara. ***4***
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