Born in West Java in 1956, Ida Widawati was raised in a family of musicians and artists. She honed her vocal talents from the young age of 5 to become an award winning performer throughout Indonesia during the 1960s and 1970s. Though she has a slew of over 20 undiscovered cassettes to her name, Udan Mas is her first international release, brought to our attention by Dutch label PAN Records. The recording, which is a live performance, is simply beautiful. Her voice is captured with picturesque accuracy, sensitively overlapping the tender bamboo flute with the soft, mellow kecapi (a Sundanese instrument that's similar to a zither) guiding the music. The atmosphere has a slow-building warmth that sustains itself consistently. The music is done in the Tembang Cianjuran style, the structural components of which are comparable to Chamber Music of the west. A large and small kecapi, alongside the aforementioned bamboo flute, form the traditional kecapi ensemble for the Cianjuran style. The delicate compositions are mostly reactionary to the lead of Widawati's voice. The history of Tembang Cianjuran is lengthy and intricate - it dates back to the Indonesian poetic form known as Pantun, which began in the 15th century. Traditionally, the recitation of Pantun was accompanied by a kecapi, and was often focused on lengthy, epic narratives - this particular historical detail bears a clear presence on Widawati's music. The lyrics here put emphasis on everything from love to mythical plant species to fairytales. Ida's vocal work is extraordinary, and the music is a unique blend of sensuous and ritualistic. For a deep, relaxing glimpse into Indonesian cultural history, this live recording is simply unparalleled.
