Recontextualizing gendang lima sendalanen through big band arrangement for cultural tourism

Abstract

This study examines a practice-based approach to recontextualizing Karo Gendang Lima Sendalanen repertoire into a big band format for cultural tourism applications. The study addresses the challenge of presenting repertoire associated with ritual contexts in contemporary performance settings while retaining identifiable musical characteristics. A qualitative, practice-based design was employed through four stages: pre-application, application, post-application, and reporting. “Simelungun Rayat,” “Odak-Odak,” and “Patam-Patam” were purposively selected based on contrasting musical characteristics and adaptation potential. Data were generated through interviews, focus group discussions, document analysis, participatory observation, and iterative composition development. The adaptation retained selected melodic contours, rhythmic motifs, and structural characteristics while mapping them onto big band instrumentation. The arrangements were reviewed by academic and performance practitioners and refined through rehearsal. Thirty Music Education students participated as performers and received training before a performance on November 10, 2023. The study produced three big band scores, performance documentation, and copyright documentation. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of producing contemporary arrangements in which selected musical characteristics remain identifiable. Because the performance was conducted in an academic rather than tourism setting, the study does not establish tourist reception or tourism impact. The contribution is positioned as a practice-based adaptation framework and prototype for further evaluation in tourism settings.