Embedded Files
Welcome to the web page of Audio-Visual examples to accompany my chapter "The Music of Islam through the Five Pillars" in The Routledge Handbook of Islam in Asia, edited by Chiara Formichi, 2022.
AV Clip 1: Mr. Zainul Abidin Lubis performs the call to prayer, Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia, April 22, 2017. Recording by the author. Used by permission.
Pak Zainul is a reciter (Qori’ also Qari’), teacher and judge of Quranic recitation who I met in 2004 at a national 5-day Qur’an competition in Palanka Raya, Kalimantan. He is also a leader of IPQOH (Ikatan Persaudaraan Qori’ / Qori’ah dan Hafiz / Hafizah -- The Association (literally, siblinghood) of Male and Female Reciters and Male and Female Memorizers of the Qur’an, a group that is renowned for its performances and recordings of Islamic song genres, tawashih, qasidah, and sholawat (Rasmussen 2016, 2010a).
Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar God is great, God is great
Ashshadu an la ilaha illa Allah (x2)
I testify that there is no God but God (x2)
Ashshadu anna Muhammad rasul Allah (x2)
I testify that Muhammad is the prophet of God
Hayya ‘ala salah (x2) Come to prayer (x2)
Hayya ‘ala falah (x2) Come to salvation (x2)
Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar God is great, God is great
La ilaha illa Allah There is no God but God
As an expert vocalist and teacher of tajwid, the system of rules that governs the sectioning, pronunciation, and rhythm of the recited Qur’an, and of lagu al-Qur’an, (melodies of the Qur’an), I knew that Pak Zainul would render an exquisite adhan. So, I requested to film him from up close. At this moment, he is driving me to the Medan airport, and I am filming from the back seat.
Audio-Visual Link 2: Hearing the call to prayer in context. Recording by the author.
This is an audio recording of the soundscape in the neighborhood of Maria Ulfah. We hear the overlapping voices of several muezzin. A muezzin (muadhdhan) is the person who performs the azan (adhan) -- the call to prayer. Note that not all of the azan-s start at the same time. Note also that the muezzin whose voice is most prominent sings several verses of the Indonesian melody "Tombo Ati," with Arabic lyrics, demonstrating the continuum between song - and the ritual performance of language, in this case the azan.
Figure 1: Poster for a competition (lomba) in Ramadan “wake-up” music, or patrol.
Note that the person depicted is wearing traditional Javanese muslim dress, the sarong and peci (cap), is beating a kentongan with a stick and proclaiming “sahur sahur,” the word for the Ramadan pre-dawn breakfast. Courtesy of Leo Zainy.
Figure 2: The group, Trisula warms up before their turn on the competition stage at Malang Town Square.
Instruments R to L: xylophone (calung), snare drum, cymbal, anklung, kentongan (held by musician seated with red shirt) plastic water jug, bass drum (jidor). Photo by the author.
AV Link 3: The patrol group, Trisula, warms up outside the Malang City Center Mall before their turn to perform in the patrol competition or lomba patrol.Video by the author. Used by permission.
Analysis of performance: UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Figure 3: A Ramadan card from the public relations manager for the National Zakat Agency (Badan Zakat Nasional).
“Happy Idul Fitri 1441 H (Hijri calendar, aka 2020). Let us hope that the struggle of Ramadhan, fasting, and Zakat will make us tougher and always grateful throughout our lives. Forgive me, body and soul.” Used by permission.
Figure 4: The qasida moderen group, Nasida Ria performs at the Dugderan Festival in Semarang, Spring 2017.
Nasida Ria, is a musical group of women established in Java in 1975, and which is now cultivating its fourth generation of female performers. Their music, which can be classified as qasidah moderen, draws from the genres, gambus, rebana, music melayu, and Indonesian pop.
Watch one of Nasida Ria's Concerts from Home, recorded during the Covid Pandemic Shut Down in Semarang, Java Indonesia, May 21, 2020.
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