Theater and Martial Arts in West Sumatra

by Pauka, Kirstin

• ISBN13: 9780896802056
• ISBN10: 0896802051
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-02-28
• Publisher: Ohio Univ Pr

Summary

Randai, the popular folk theater tradition of the Minangkabau ethnic group in West Sumatra, has evolved to include influences of martial arts, storytelling, and folk songs. Theater and Martial Arts in West Sumatra describes the origin, development, and cultural background of randai and highlights two recent developments: the emergence of female performers and modern staging techniques.

This book also explores the indigenous martial arts form silek, a vital part of randai today. The strong presence of silek is illustrated in the martial focus of the stories that are told through randai, in its movement repertoire, and even in its costumes and musical accompaniment. As Kirstin Pauka shows, randai, firmly rooted in silek and Minangkabau tradition, is an intriguing mirror of the Minangkabau culture.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	ix	(2)
Acknowledgments	xi
1. Introduction	1	(15)
What Is Randai?	1	(4)
The Minangkabau People	5	(11)
2. Origin and Historical Development of Randai	16	(10)
Origin Theories	16	(5)
Further Development	21	(1)
Advance of Female Performers	22	(2)
Randai's Response to Modernization	24	(2)
3. The Martial Art Silek	26	(17)
Silek Styles and Their Origin	27	(1)
Training Methods	28	(4)
Techniques and Strategies	32	(5)
Philosophical and Ethical Principles	37	(1)
Aesthetics	38	(1)
Magic	39	(2)
Summary	41	(2)
4. Performers of Randai	43	(6)
Composition of Randai Troupes	43	(3)
Performance Occasions and Duration	46	(3)
5. Randai Scripts	49	(42)
Structure of the Scripts	49	(10)
Language	59	(5)
Story Material	64	(21)
Conflict and Resolution as Themes	85	(4)
Randai Texts as a Mirror of Minangkabau Culture	89	(2)
6. Performance Space and Costuming	91	(8)
Staging	92	(1)
Costumes and Props	93	(6)
7. Music	99	(14)
The Instruments and Their Function	100	(3)
The Songs and Their Function	103	(3)
Percussion Performed by the Dancers	106	(7)
8. Acting	113	(13)
Role Types	114	(4)
Vocalization	118	(1)
Movement Conventions	119	(3)
Interaction between Characters	122	(1)
Scenes of Conflict	123	(3)
9. Martial Arts and Dance	126	(27)
Fighting Scenes	126	(18)
The Martial Arts Dance Galombang	144	(5)
Dance	149	(1)
Summary	150	(3)
10. Conclusion	153	(5)
Significance of Silek in Randai	153	(2)
Change and Continuity	155	(3)
Appendix A: Questionnaire and Results	158	(7)
Appendix B: Script of Sabai Nan Aluih	165	(20)
Appendix C: Script of Umbuik Mudo	185	(47)
Notes	232	(19)
Glossary	251	(4)
Bibliography	255	(4)
Index	259