Major Jantje and Tanjidor

Major Jantje and Tanjidor

Orchestral music which became known as the tanjidor begins Citrap or Citeureup and started around the second decade of the 19th century. This music has been described as the music of slaves and could not escape the role of a descendant of a major Mardijker people (one independent).

Is Augustijn Michiels, a direct descendant of Jonathan Michiels a Mardijker people who became leader of the Mardijker people in the northeast of Batavia, who left the musical arts? Jonathan styled Luitenant der Oud Inlandsche der Burgerij of Papangers - a senior lieutenant of the Papang. He owned land in Cileungsi and Klapanunggal. Heritage Jonathan finally fell into the hands Augustijn that in 1807 - after 20 years of service in the army - stopped by the title Majoore der Oud Burgerij or Colonel Titulair.

Nevertheless, a wealthy Augustijn never lived in Weltevreden as the Dutch and other Europeans. As Mardijker people he chose to stay in Ancol in which the Mardijker people live.

In the year 1817, which later Augustijn better known as Major Jantje, buying land and rural Citrap along the highway between Batavia and Buitenzorg (Bogor) as Cibarusa, Tanahbaru, Cimapang. In his review on the book Major Jantje: Stories of Batavia Landlord-19th century compositions Johan Fabricius, Mona Lohanda confirmed the presence of the mayor and his role in the existence of tanjidor.

As a landlord, Major Jantje has hundreds of slaves, men and women. From the hundreds of slaves, there were 30 people who later joined the Corps Music Papang (Het Muziek der Papangers Corps) which was formed between 1827-1829. These musicians accompany the major party every night. From Europe to Tionghoa music played. This music continues to play until the death of Major Jantje meet on January 27, 1833 at his residence in Semper Idem, Batavia.

With the death of Major Jantje, the orchestra's existence was no longer clear. The slaves who were given European instruments such as Tambourine Turkish, French horn, bass drum, and the Clarinet that was auctioned. Auctions with his instrument. But Mona insisted, the music starts from the time tanjidor Major Jantje. The name comes from tanjidor estimated Portuguese Tanger (playing music) and tangedor (playing music outside the room), but also had a word Betawi tanji (music).

Tanjidor until the mid-1950s are still entertaining people at the time of celebrating the new year, including ngamen in the city area during Lunar New Year until Cap Go Meh. After that, the orchestra made up of western musical instruments like the clarinet, trombone, trumpet, tenor tuba, side drum, cymbals, ngamen banned in Jakarta. This orchestra music is also affected China seen from the use of flutes, gongs, drums, fiddle. Their music is usually cheerful music, marching like the songs from the Dutch period are usually brought the soldiers.