ASMAT TRADISIONAL SONG

By: Bonifasus Jakfu

Sound or the sound produced by a particular object in fact has an important and distinctive role for the object in question. On one side of the sound is the identity or identification, in other situations sound is a medium of communication. The rumble in the sky with dark clouds will soon sign of rain. Sound of a dog barking in the woods when hunting the animal sign is already found its mark. Chirping maleo - poultry is a hint of dawn soon break down. Without having to see, in real sound is always signaled. As human actors use sound to convey a specific message to the other party. Humans communicate by voice artistically after treatment with common sense, something that distinguishes the human voice with any sound.

Sound art - the art element emotions expressed through tone or sound is an expression of the human soul masterpiece about a feeling in the form of vocal processing. Through songs humans can convey a message that is processed in the artwork. There is sacred songs are created for religious rituals, there is also a pep profane life. That goal can be seen from the value of a song for the communities concerned. The song that was created for ritual purposes has a higher value than the songs for entertainment purposes only. This behavioral tendency evident during recite vocalist accompanied by a ban and sanctions against members of the community as a whole.

Meaning songs often express awe and adoration, disappointment and hope delivered to the other party. Track messages delivered to fellow human beings, the universe, and the spirit that controls this life. That the essence of vocal expression ideals through art is man's attempt to reposition the lives of the less balanced when viewed from different angles.

Community Asmat convey a message to others through a variety of ways, including sound art which have been fused in the local cultural wisdom. In the tradition of Asmat there are three classifications song that has a very important influence as an expression of life wisdom in the order of local cultural values. The third classification is Sow, Pirimat and clouds, the kind of song that has its own character, sung in the context of time constraints, the procession, personnel and premises.

Sow
In the wisdom of Asmat art and culture, the sow is a song that was sung for the listener with musical accompaniment drums. Sow express praise or admiration customary wisdom of the universe - the spirit of involving themselves in human life, or the admiration of the legendary figures in history. Sow also sung on occasions expressed regret - recognition of behavior that is immoral or unethical spirit, human beings, animals, and plants that are implicitly implied in the text songs sung. Sow actually chanting songs life expectancy, a prayer to the presence of the other to the opposite expect to get a response back to the intentions presented. Sow sung during the day or night according to the specific interest or a celebration of both individual and collective. Schematically sow monotonous sung as songs, always sung in a whole series of ceremonies, started, while closing.

Sow can be classified into three parts, namely je secure sow, sow Cese / jipae sow, and TII sow. Je amansow is a song to the accompaniment of drums are specially sung in rituals - jee-house party at customs. Historically this song has a special legend, rigid and are tabu- pemali, may pose a threat to the offending party. Asmat indigenous communities could not chant je amansow at a time and place that is not in accordance with the requirements in the local cultural wisdom.

Cese sow is a song often sung by artists Asmat with drum accompaniment at night outside or inside the traditional house. Cese sow chanting songs to the accompaniment of drums, historically traditional song has a meaning related to community life now. That is the song sung was the creation of the senior singers who sat in a circle in wair lead singer.

While the sow is Jipae iriangan chanting songs with drums, from the point of the history of indigenous song referred meaningless and is closely related to a party or ceremony Jipae. Jipae feast is a ceremony organized community Asmat few clumps - Sirau, Bismam, Simai, Joerat, Becbup, and Kaimojiwin, to bring back the spirit of relatives who had died in order to provide support in a variety of business life in the world. While Tiisow is a song commonly sung in indigenous communities Asmat as a medium of learning for children ages toddler through teens.

Pirimat --pirmat anakat / bot pirmat
Pirimat is the type of song commonly sung by the Asmat traditional artists as a way of expressing regret or lament without the use of musical instruments. Through pirimat Asmat community expressed regret over the attitude is not commendable that may have been made to the "other side". Pirimat specifically reveal the density of the Asmat people against others who have sacrificed for the salvation or the "interests" of self or group. Pirimat nuanced lament, that every sacrifice back to be remembered as a ransom for the salvation of many.

As the sow, to intone pirimat usually there are rules that have certainly respected and had high kosekwensi if not heeded. Disclosure Asmat community feeling through this song kind of always through standard procedures, the time in the tradition of the original, and a singer with raw composition. Pirimat always sung during the day with specific themes, such as nature conservation, solidarity, victory, adversity, fertility, expressed in the title of the song. Among other things Jusu, Juku Asmit, Jukuap, Sow Juku, Topot, Bis, Fasak, Act, Sirat Asimat, and Sirat Beor. Everything the title reveals moral messages to always maintain the balance of life with "the earth" to another.

 --Awan / pakmu awan—

In contrast to sow and pirimat, Awen more familiar with the general public, that to sing again this everyone is allowed, restriction of age or gender is not taken into account. Kids - teenage children up to senior citizens, both men and women can sing this kind of song. Clouds / Awen Asmat community commonly sung without musical accompaniment of highly respect to expression of feelings of love, both erotic feelings and feelings have other parties as part of the self, not infrequently there pengukapan solideritas feeling and empathy --love agape.

These songs can be divided into two types. First, that is the kind of song Pakmbu Awan "awen" which has been referred to in a package with certain traditional ceremonies as an element that can not be separated in any way. Type song and a particular ceremony has its own legend or myth, if not sung consistently with procedures and process of the rite, and disasters will pose a threat to the individual or community concerned. Creator who composed this song is anonymous, with no clear identity. At the ceremony in regions Joerat, there are ritual Imu Pakmu, is the traditional party of the most widely used cloud as an anthem at night or during the day.

Second, the type of song Bot awan created or adapted from a bot  wailing ow / cepes in community life. Differences of this type with pakmu cloud, that the creator or the person who mengaransement this song clearly identifiable. In this case there are special, when a group of people brought this type of this song in particular occasion, the owner -- songs obliged to present something to the singer when the whole set of the ceremony.