Saodor Ensembles
Saodor Ensemble is an experimental music collective project that draws its artistic inspiration from the traditional music of Batak Toba, North Sumatra. Its members are experienced professional musicians in the Indonesian contemporary music scene.
The Saodor Ensemble's creative source comes from types of Batak toba music, such as the “gondang” ensemble style and “andung” vocal technique. They try to combine these traditional styles with new, modern, or experimental musical approaches to address “tradition” in the context of “the future.”
Selected Classical:NEXT 2025
Saodor Ensemble has been officially selected as one of the showcase artists for Classical:NEXT 2025, a leading international platform for forward-thinking music creators and curators, held annually in Berlin, Germany.
the selection marks a significant milestone in the ensemble’s artistic journey, affirming their contribution to the global dialogue on tradition-based contemporary music.
The selected work, “Lungun”, is a neo-traditional composition inspired by Andung, a ritual lamentation from the Batak Toba community of North Sumatra. Through this piece, Saodor Ensemble explores the intersection of oral tradition, sonic memory, and modern experimentation.
The recognition from Classical:NEXT underscores the ensemble’s commitment to preserving and reimagining Indonesia’s cultural heritage through immersive and innovative sound practices.
-
![Woman sitting on a woven stool against a textured wall, wearing a beige outfit and a colorful striped scarf.]()
Jessica Simanjuntak
Piano
-
![Woman sitting on stool, wearing beige outfit, striped shawl, and glasses, against a textured background.]()
Dela Marpaung
Vocal
-
![Person holding a traditional string instrument with red woven fabric.]()
Fardian
Electronic
-
![Person in black outfit with red shawl, seated against a neutral background.]()
Alfin Syahrian
Vocal & Piano
-
![Man in black outfit with red shawl sitting against gray background]()
Darell Sinaga
Vocal
-
![Person playing a wooden flute while seated, holding a red woven fabric, wearing a black shirt, against a plain wall background.]()
Lamro Sinaga
Sulim
-
![Person playing a bamboo flute against a textured wall, wearing a red and gold sash and black attire.]()
Natalius Simarmata
Sulim
-
![Person sitting with a traditional textile draped over shoulder, holding drumsticks. Wearing a black shirt and blue watch.]()
Jazz Situmorang
Percussionist
LUNGUN
Lungun music composition is inspired by the Toba Batak tradition of “Andung,” a sad lament in death ceremonies. This work was performed at Bentara Budaya Bali's “Akademika Bentara” program (June 5, 2024).
Performers
Saodor Ensembles
Composer
Jessica Simanjuntak