Creative Interpretation of a Performing Art Work: From Malin Kundang to Malin Nan Kondang

Abstract

The Minangkabau Opera Malin Nan Kondang is a work of art that attempts to combine concepts of traditional and modern art. The traditional concept used is the Minangkabau folk theater Randai. The modern concept is the concept of opera which is widely used throughout the world. Randai, a form of traditional Minangkabau theater, is joined together in this work with the essence of opera. The circles in Randai, with the rhythmic pencak movements accompanied by singing, are reprocessed and simplified. The essence of Randai is adapted to fit the structure of a conventional script. A folktale is used only as the inspiration for creating an innovative work. The folktale used, Malin Kundang, is about a son who disobeys and betrays his mother and has a curse put on him, turning him into stone. Meanwhile, the Minangkabau Opera Malin Nan Kondang, tells of the romance between Malin and Nilam. Their love story involves numerous challenges but the performance has a happy ending when the two characters finally meet and live happily ever after. The method used to analyze the Minangkabau Opera Malin Nan Kondang is the pamenan method, which views the performance from the perspective of a game and something that is well-loved in Minangkabau culture. This research is founded on the method and technique of qualitative writing, which is a strategy for obtaining descriptive data or information about the meaning of an object, action, or in this case the events related to the Minangkabau Opera Malin Nan Kondang.

Keywords: opera Minangkabau, randai, pamenan, folk tale

DOI: 10.7176/ADS/106-02

Publication date:August 31^st 2023