BATAK MUSIC THAT NEVER GOES OUT OF DATE
M. Agung Rajasa, Antara Foto

A dark red color of the wall seems to dominate the room. Two computer screens, some wooden tables and a number of loudspeakers line up to the left and right of the musician’s working table. This is the sound-proof room where a Jakarta born young man, Viky Sianipar, arranges Batak songs with a touch of current musical trend.

Viky tells a story dated back to 16 years ago, when his father Monang Sianipar asked him to arrange a Batak song titled Anakku Na Burju. “If I arrange a Batak song, what will the world think of me? I may get embarrassed because of this,” says Viki in a thick Batak accent.

Persuaded by his father, Viky finally agreed to arrange the music, even though he did it half-heartedly. He said that he never listens to the result of the musical arrangement of the song.
“But, my father liked it so much. The music was repeatedly played in the office or in the car,” says the man who is also the fan of David Foster and The Beatles.

The 39-year-old man says that since he was a child he has not been fond of something related to traditions of his ancestors who are of Batak ethnicity. But, the situation changed after he got a spiritual experience during a hike to one of the hilltops surrounding Lake Toba. At that time, for the first time in his life he felt so proud of being an ethnic Batak.

“Now I understand why many great artists were born there. Lake Toba has inspired a big number of great Batak personalities. Through a beautiful nature, God seems to bless the Bataks greatly. I think God was only smiling when He created the land for Sundanese people. But God created Lake Toba when He was laughing happily,“ he says.

According to Viky, Batak songs will keep its existence due to a number of reasons, including because of a new arrangement that gives an impression of something new.

As a musician, Viky keeps the traditional instruments, the original style of Batak music and its vocal scoring and lyrics created by its original composers. Efforts to preserve Batak music is not done statically, but they are adjusted to the latest condition and the development of modern technology.

It is not easy for this young man, who likes to play basketball, to continue with his musical works, especially Batak musical arrangement. He has been rejected by many people, including musicians, music industry, and even some Bataks do not approve his works and consider that his music vandalizes the original Batak music.

Yet, he keeps working. Seven albums he helps arrange have been launched. Viky has maintained the traditional music through innovation and smart touches while keeping the traditional values intact so that Batak songs are attractive enough to the young generation.

After a 12-year work of introducing Batak songs with an arrangement style that could be accepted by young Bataks, Viky considers that more and more people love Batak music. Moreover, as a musician he has tried to keep the rhythm of his work and keep trying to find new ways to promote Batak music. This father of two children said that he has a personal mission when doing his work, which is to make the world become a better place by providing enlightenment via music.
A Harry Potter book fan, he says that he is not satisfied with what he has done so far, for he does not only target Indonesian youths to love local music, but he also wants to introduce Batak music to the world through his concert titled “Toba World”, which is now under preparation.

After a 12-year work of introducing Batak songs, Viky considers that more and more people love Batak music. Moreover, as a musician he has tried to keep the rhythm of his work and keep trying to find new ways to promote Batak music. He says that he is not satisfied with what he has done so far, for he does not only target Indonesian youths to love local music, but he also wants to introduce Batak music to the world through his concert titled “Toba World”, which is now under preparation.