This is a short version of traditional performance Didong by Toet. Didong is a traditional art form that originates from the Gayo region of Aceh. It combines three art elements; sounds, literature, and dance or body movements.
In the past, didong carried various functions in the lives of the Gayo community, including communicating cultural issues or preserving specific aspects of the culture. As its function expanded, didong then became a tool to document history in which the singer creates poetry about regional or national history. The subject matter of the story includes issues of agriculture, development, transmigration, and the beauty of nature.
Note: Two performance tapes available.
This film is short version of performance tradition Dalang Jemblung filmed at Taman Ismail Marzuki Jakarta, and Takengon, Aceh, Indonesia, as part of the 'On the Record: Indonesian Performance Tradition" series which features interview with the artists of performance tradition. This series consists of raw documentary footage of each regions oral traditions, mostly in the local language/dialect. A few films have some narration in Indonesian. Lontar has documented 30 performances around Indonesia.
Creator / Author: Toet
Publisher: Lontar Foundation
Place of Publication: Jakarta
Publisher URL: http://www.lontar.org
Created: 2014
