Indonesia Music of Timor CD

The island of Timor is the largest of the group of islands that make up the province of Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). The province, which also includes the islands of Sumba, Sabu (local pronunciation) or Sawu, Rai Jua, Roti, Ndao, Semau and Flores, with the islands of Komodo and Rincah to the west and Solor, Adonara, Lembata, Pantar and Ator to the east, divides into 12 administrative districts (kabupaten), which roughly correspond with the major ethnic divisions in the area. The area has poor natural resources with a semiarid tropical climate, low rainfall and a long dry season, making it the most povertystricken of Indonesia's provinces.

Though there are close musiccultural and ethnic links between the people on both sides of the border of East and West Timor, this recording contains only aural clips from the rich song and musical traditions of all four districts of West Timor. Tracks 16 were recorded in Kabupaten Kupang, tracks 79 in Kabupaten Timor Tengah Utara, tracks 1019 in Kabpaten Belu and tracks 2023 in Kabupaten Timor Tengah Selatan. The four districts differ from each other musically according to their different mixes of ethnic and historical experience, with the westernmost district having been the most thoroughly exposed to outside contact. Some of the items included on this recording are excerpts of long ritual ceremonies, especially pre and postbattle ceremonies with gong and drum ensemble music or mass choral music with circle dancing (tebe), attended by many Timorese wearing traditional ikat (woven cloth) costumes. There are some selections from the large repertoire of vocal or storysinging music, for example, long poetic songs telling of prehistoric migrations of people. Examples of the variety of flute, jews harp, guitar, violin and sasandobiola music for informal occasions found in each district are included.

tracklist
1 Akatvereta 357”
2 Jila Puru Ratu 223”
3 Yema Ngape Keta 119”
4 Tari Woleka 225”
5 Bolelebo 127”
6 Tante Miranda 245”
7 Heo-bijola 400”
8 Ai Ina Mama 334”
9 Tarian gong 317”
10 Tari Likurai 452”
11 Oras Loron Melereng 233”
12 Belu Childrens Game Song 158”
13 Tandak 502”
14 Pso Bano Maekat 241”
15 Bsoot Tabso 058”
16 Tegur Sapa 536”
17 Mens Hunu Lau 138”
18 Feko Bobi 059”
19 Lagu Sikoi 205”
20 Sene Tufu 500”
21 Feko Sedih 200”
22 Feko Bobi 301”
23 Sene Tufu 607”
Total Time: 7047”