Reviving Indonesian Music Heritage Through the National Rhythm Institute of Indonesia (LINI)

Kapanlagi.com - Indonesia has an extraordinary wealth of music and cultural arts, making it one of the countries with the most diverse musical styles in the world. The unique and varied musical instruments and playing patterns make Indonesia known as a "superpower" in arts and culture. However, to preserve this wealth, serious efforts are needed to ensure that cultural heritage remains sustainable and can be enjoyed by future generations.

In his book titled Indonesia Darurat Irama, Rudy Octave emphasizes the importance of rhythm in the development of Indonesian cultural music arts. According to Rudy, rhythm is not just a melody of music, but has a deeper function in encouraging distinctive and easily followed dance choreography. "Rhythm is an important artistic discovery in cultural music arts," he stated. The presence of rhythm can expand the meaning and impact of music, bringing to life the dance movements that are the cultural identity of the nation.

However, Rudy states that rhythm will be difficult to learn and recognize if it is not given a name. "Without a name, people will have difficulty identifying, mentioning, or even communicating the type of music," he explained. Naming each rhythm is important so that the community can recognize and identify the various rhythms, as well as popularize the dances that become the characteristics of each rhythm, such as salsa with salsa dance or samba with samba dance.

To maintain the sustainability of cultural rhythms, Rudy Octave highlights the importance of documenting and disseminating Indonesian music rhythms. "Gambang kromong, tanjidor, gamelan, and rindik are examples of musical instruments that must be distinguished from rhythms," he said. According to him, the community often mistakenly believes that these musical instruments are the names of the rhythms. This misunderstanding indicates that the patterns of traditional instrument playing have not been well identified and documented.

1. Training and Certification Agenda

Credit: Istimewa

The awareness of the importance of preservation is what motivated Rudy Octave to establish the National Rhythm Institute of Indonesia (LINI). LINI aims to document, archive, and codify the rhythms of Indonesia's cultural music comprehensively. Through this institute, Rudy hopes that the wealth of archipelagic rhythms will not only be preserved but also recognized as part of Indonesia's national identity.

LINI is committed to documenting all traditional rhythms from various regions in Indonesia in the form of books, audiovisual materials, and sheet music. In addition, this institute also develops the skills of traditional musicians through training and certification. "We want to promote Indonesia's traditional rhythms through digital publications, books, and cultural events," said Rudy. This program is expected to broaden appreciation for Indonesia's traditional arts both domestically and internationally.

2. Encourage Collaboration Among Musicians

Credit: Special

In addition to documenting, LINI also strives to encourage collaboration between musicians, academics, and art practitioners. Through this collaboration, innovation in cultural preservation will become more accessible. LINI carries out various work programs such as field research, audio-visual production, and organizing concerts of the archipelago's cultural rhythms. Through these activities, LINI hopes that traditional rhythms can be widely recognized and find a place in the hearts of the community.

Rudy stated that LINI's significant work would not succeed without the support of all parties. "LINI cannot operate alone. Our participation as the future of the nation is essential for this noble work to be carried out effectively," he expressed. The preservation of Indonesian rhythms is a shared responsibility, especially for the younger generation who will inherit this cultural wealth.

With this great mission, LINI is committed to preserving and developing the cultural heritage of Indonesian rhythms.

(kpl/glk)