Sampelong Supplanted
Islamidar dissociated sampelong from a mystical context and changed it into Minang folk music. Three talented students with the potential to continue his work chose instead to be farmers.
August 4, 2010
ALTHOUGH Islamidar taught sampelong for almost 40 years to many people, finally they have all left it, including his own son, Ahmad. “They all prefer an organ and electronic music,” said the last sampelong maestro of West Sumatra, two weeks ago.
Sampelong is a musical instrument that resembles the suling (flute) which accompanies dendang (singing). The instrument is made of bamboo the size of a broom handle 35 centimeters long. It has five h
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