Kuntari - Larynx Organic Live Set (4K - Ultra HD)

KUNTARI’s latest composition, Larynx takes its inspirations from historical, ancient rhythms which were the result of assimilation of different cultures. Naming Hadrah Kuntulan and Sar Ping drumming among his references, Tesla Manaf combines them with his irregular way of playing cornet/trumpet reminiscent of mating call sounds of animals and percussive baritone guitar, yielding a form of heavier rhythm drenched in the eeriest kind of howls.

Artist’s statement from KUNTARI regarding the composition:

For the last 18 months, I've been working on the new way to create irregular Embouchure technique for Cornet/Trumpet. The goal is to imitate mating call sounds of animals, which somehow could sound eerie yet beautiful at the same time. I became more sensitive of animal voices and tried to find out how it worked through studying their vocal cords, pursuing further the wide range of unorthodox voices of animal mating calls.

The composition is an acculturation of various ancient rhythms present in Indonesia such as Hadrah Kuntulan and Sar Ping drumming. Hadrah Kuntulan from Banyuwangi, Indonesia is one of the oldest drum-based rhythm in Indonesia. A variation of interlocking patterns, creating a tribal polymetric sound developed by the locals over hundreds of years. It is a very Middle Eastern-esque form of rebana—a religious music found throughout Java—in which the riffs are remarkably varied and dynamic, marked with its distinctive tone of buffalo skin drums.

Banned from Indonesia during Soeharto’s New Order era for 33 years, Barongsai or Lion Dance is a result of acculturation between Balinese and Chinese culture—in which the name Barongsai itself indicates the acculturation where “barong” means mask/dance in Balinese language and “sai” means lion in Hokkien language. Its deep roots can be traced to the 12th century when King Jayapangus married the daughter of a Chinese trader during their visit in Bali.

The combination of prepared cornet, percussive baritone guitar and hybrid percussion technique yielded a composition almost-devoid of tone and notes. It's a mixture of unclassified heavy rhythm and shivering howl.
The results is surprising, the combination of organic sounds of the ancient beats and mating calls of the animals somehow perfectly blended, creating a huge sound.

CREDITS:

Produced by Maternal Disaster
Audio recorded and engineered by Tesla Manaf
Cornet, guitar, samples by Tesla Manaf
Drum, percussion by Rio Abror
Mixed and mastered by Indra Adhikusuma
Graphics by Anindito Ar

Director Arif Agustianto
Cameraman Helmi Devriantama
Photographer Andi Juhari
Fadly Mauludia Asgap

Art direction by Tesla Manaf and Anindito Ar
Set management and properties by Rizki Firmansyah
Filmed and recorded at Bandung Trade Mall, Kiaracondong