SENI SINGIRAN DALAM RITUAL TAHLILAN PADA MASYARAKAT ISLAM TRADISIONAL JAWA

Abstract

The phenomenon of Singiran in tahlilan is typically Javanese.
Singiran is a form of Javanese singing art (tembang) performed in the middle of
tahlilan ritual, especially when tahlil words are being recited. The aims of this
writing are (1) to describe the form of Singiran song found among the society of
Ngemplak Nganti, Sendangadi Mlati Sleman, and (2) to describe the function of
Singiran art in the context of Islamic traditional Javanese culture.
The form of Singiran song is typically different from other genres of
Javanese songs, such as those in karawitan, pedalangan and santiswara/
larasmadya. The laras (pitch) used is both pelog (seven-tone gamelan scale) and
slendro five-tone gamelan scale). Laras pelog is played in the opening and
closing songs while laras slendro is for songs in the middle. All the rhythms are
metrical with medium speed and then high speed at the end of the songs. This
speed arrangement forms a dramatic pattern of a single cone. The literary
ornaments used are purwakanthi guru swara with rhyming scheme of a-a or a-aa
The functions of Singiran in the context of tahlilan ritual are (a) as an Islamic
propagating medium, and (b) as a means of tightening brotherhood among the
members of tahlil groups.
Key words: Singiran, tahlilan, Islamic traditional Javanese culture