Echoes Of Tanjidor From The Portuguese Landlord's Residence

Photo illustrations (Instagram / @ riskadewiikhsan)

JAKARTA - Tanjidor is almost - if you don't want to be called it - extinct. He really has reached his gun. In fact, back in the days of the Dutch East Indies until the early 1950s, tanjidor was the most popular entertainment.

The progress of the times, the mushrooming of western music, so that there is no regeneration is the cause of the extinction of tanjidor. This symptom has appeared for a long time, the criticism was even raised in the classic soap opera Si Doel Anak Sekolahan (1994-2006).

The satire about tanjidor is told in one of the episodes when Doel - the main character played by Rano Karno - is asked to help repair a trombone by his neighbor. The trombone owner believed that as a mechanical engineering degree, Doel could do it. Of course, Doel failed to fulfill that expectation.

By Doel, then the instrument was brought to the repairman. With a look of amazement, the repairman asked, "Haya, do you know where I can service this?"

"Ask left and right, koh," said Si Doel to the repairman.

"Oe haven't played this for a long time," he said again.

Doel then asked, "Why?"

"If you wait for this service, your family might not be able to eat," replied the repairman who then agreed to Doel's request for a moment.

"Eh, tong, are you a tanjidor player?" technician.

"So what if I am a tanjidor player?" replied Doel.

"It's okay, I wonder if you're still a young person like you still want to play tanjidor," said the repairman.

The Si Doel Anak Sekolahan series is known as one of the most real television works, especially for Betawi children. Played by big names such as Benyamin Sueb, Mandra, Aminah Cendrakasih, Maudy Kusnaedi, to Cornelia Agatha, Si Doel Anak Sekolahan often raises social and cultural issues in Jakarta, especially those related to the needs of Betawi people.

It is through one of the most iconic scenes that people understand the reason why tanjidor is rarely seen today. And the disconnect generation factor is real. In fact, tanjidor was an elegant music of its time. When Jakarta was still called Batavia, tanjidor could only be heard in exclusive and classy places.

History

Judging from its origin, tanjidor itself comes from the Portuguese language, namely "tangedor", which means "stringed musical instruments". Tanjidor is usually played in groups. And about exclusivity, tanjidor has been a "expensive item since its appearance in Bumu Pertiwi". History reveals that tanjidor was first known through a wealthy landlord named Augustijn Michiels in the 19th century.

The man who is familiarly called Major Jantje is a direct descendant of Jonathan Michiels, a mardijkers - a liberated budka - who became the leader of the mardijkers in northeast Batavia. Major Jantje, who has the nickname Kapitein der Papangers, owns a lot of land and businesses in several areas, including Cileungsi to Klapanunggal. In addition, he who was of European-Asian blood had slaves that reached a fantastic number, namely 130 people.

Quoted from Djoko Soekiman in his book entitled Indies Culture, it was recorded that in 1831, Major Jantje's number of slaves reached 130 people, of which 30 were accomplished music players. These versatile talents were the origin of Tanjidor.

“In addition, there are four ronggeng dancers, two xylophone players, and two mask dancers. Even the Chinese also trained their slaves to become artists in the fast-growing Chinese troupes of that era. Usually, slaves who were good at dancing and singing were highly valued, ”it was written.

Slaven Concerten or Slavenorkest which means music player is a name that is often associated with this music group. Other names, these 30 musicians are also often called Het Muziek Corps der Papangers. This name lasted for two years, 1827 to 1829, when Major Jantje was promoted to colonel. The action of these musicians earned praise. Their game feels luxurious.

Djoko Soekiman even described Major Jantje's luxurious life with his musicians equalizing the life of Sultan Hamengkubuwono in Yogyakarta. "At the Sultan Hamengkubuwono Palace, in Yogyakarta, there are also internal servants who play western music. These musicians live in Musikanan Village (east of Pagelaran). In addition, in the palace's inner courtyard there is a Koepel building, specifically for music playing. "

Djoko Soekiman was not exaggerating. Because, in Major Jantje's residence at Wisma Citrap, he also prepared a special place for music players. An illustration of the luxurious lifestyle of Major Jantje in enjoying a party at his house can be seen through Mona Lohanda's review in Johan Fabricius' book entitled Mayor Jantje, The Story of a 19th Century Batavian Landlord.

In the commentary, Mona wrote, the musicians played while lining up around the table filled with Major Jantje's guests. “These musicians enliven the dining ceremony with their music. Then, just before the guests ended their meal, the musicians and dancers surrounded the dining room led by the landlord. Thus, the party went on happily. "

For those who come to visit Major Jantje's house, the presence of musicians can add to the happiness. Even for Major Jantje himself. The presence of the musician makes life at his residence at Wisma Citrap alive.

Until death

The happiness continues. Music continued to be played, even until the tale touched the sad point of Major Jantje's death. The Landlord died on 27 January 1833 at his other residence in Semper Idem, Batavia. After that death, the musicians who were slaves were auctioned off by Major Jantje's descendants along with their musical instruments.

That is the point where the music as the symbol of glory around Major Jantje disappears. "They are very likely to prioritize the sound of worldly music that can be profitable, that is, the clatter of silver coins, rather than the music of the Papuan people of Major Jantje," wrote Mona of Major Jantje's descent.

In the 1950s, outside Major Jantje's residence, the art of tanjidor music was again busy entertaining residents. Tanjidor is played in New Year celebrations or Chinese New Year and Cap Go Meh celebrations which are usually celebrated in crowded city areas. However, at that time the musical nuances had been modified by the Betawi people who were more dominated by wind instruments.

That is the history of tanjidor music in Batavia. Today, we may question ourselves and our environment, where clarinet (blow), piston (blow), trombone (blow), tenor saxophone (blow), bass sax (blow), drums (membranophones), cymbals (percussion) , and drums?