Prophet Muhammad: Songs in Praise of the Prophet: Salwat Dulang
This selection is a salawat dulang from Minangkabau, a region in western Sumatra (Indonesia). The salawat dulang is a musical and poetic duo which imitates the form of a joust. It can be based on sacred Islamic texts, secular texts or a combination of both. It seeks to educate the younger generation on the issues of morality and religion. Quatrains are chanted in the Minangkabau language, with Arabic mixed in. The chant, which is always improvised and upheld by the rhythm of beating two large brass trays (dulang or talam), introduces microintervals and subtle ornamentation. The first singer opens the ceremony by asking the assistants, earthly and heavenly, to forgive all the mistakes which they might make during the performance. Then he sings the salutations assalamu 'alaikum (peace be upon you all), the first phrase of the profession of faith la ilaha illallah (there is no god but God) and the address to the Prophet Ya Nabi Muhammad.
(from: Musique de l'Islam d'Asie (Inedit, Paris))
