The Sounds of Indonesia

Even prior to reading Anne Rasmussen’s Women, The Recited Qur’an, and Islamic Music in Indonesia, I knew the significance that sound plays in Indonesian culture. I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel to Indonesia last summer. Among the diverse cultures, traditions, and landscapes, I was also drawn to the rich sonic environment. Although I was not able to attend any of the cultural and religious festivals that Indonesia is known for, I was still able to get a good sense of the sounds in Indonesia. When we drove through the villages with our car windows down, we were met with the bustling sounds of the streets- outdoor market vendors selling various produce, honking cars, the revving of motorcycle engines, and barking dogs. On one of the days that I was there there, we noticed that the cars ahead of us had stopped moving. We couldn’t see what was going on, but we could hear- the beating of drums, the sound of the laughter of children, the footsteps of people, etc. filled the silence in our car, as we listened with wonder. We didn’t have to see to envision what was going on, but used our ears to create auditory imagery- we realized that a wedding was taking place.

Anne Rasmussen’s text explores the powerful role that music has in Islamic faith. Rasmussen says that “it is common knowledge that the Wali Songo spread Muslim teachings through the performing and literary arts such as wayang shadow puppet theater, poetry, and songs” (66). This goes to show that music can be used as a medium to spread religious ideology, which goes hand in hand with music being a vehicle for the praise of liturgy. At the church I used to belong to, we’d recite prayers and chant worship songs together to be more in tune with God and to feel a sense of unity. Outside of the religious context, music can bring people together, can be used as a form of entertainment and self expression, as a motivator, and as a media for education, among many other things.