Batak Music: Tobak Batak Music Played by the Tihang Gultom Group

Sumatra, the second largest island of Indonesia, is home to many ethnic groups including the Batak. This album presents informal music from the Toba Batak group around Lake Toba in North Sumatra. Their folk music features interlocking polyrhythms of percussion instruments and melodies performed on flutes, kecapi (lute), and the double-reed sarune. Songs feature solo sections showcasing the individual instruments, which are introduced in the first track. Liner notes include some background on the music culture and a transcript of the brief song introductions.