History of musical notes in Indonesia – Chaka Music Production

1. Origins from France (Galin-Paris-Chevé System)

Although we know it as a standard system, number notes were actually invented in France in the 19th century. This system was developed by Pierre Galin, Aimé Paris, and Émile Chevé.

The goal is very practical: to make it easier for ordinary people to learn to read music without having to memorize complicated chords on musical notes. This system became known as the Galin-Paris-Chevé method.

2. Entry to Indonesia via Dutch Missionaries

Numerical notes entered the archipelago during the Dutch colonial period, around the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century.

• Role of the Church: Dutch missionaries and teachers brought this system to teach praise songs (hymns) in churches and public schools.

• Practicality: Due to the limitations of musical printing equipment at that time, numerical notes were much easier to type on a regular typewriter or write by hand than musical notes.

3. Adaptation in Local Music

One of the reasons why musical notes are so durable in Indonesia is their conformity to local musical logic:

• Gamelan Music: The kepatihan system used in Javanese music uses numbers to record notes. This makes the transition or adaptation from western music to local music (and vice versa) easier for traditional musicians to understand.

• Mass Education: After independence, the Indonesian government used musical notes as the standard for music education in schools because it was considered the most effective to teach them en masse to students.

4. Important Figures: Paul Seelig and Ki Hajar Dewantara

Several figures have had a hand in popularizing or adapting this system:

• Paul Seelig: A Dutch composer in Indonesia who composed many songs with musical notes.

• Ki Hajar Dewantara: In the Taman Siswa education, he also adopted a number-based titi laras (notation) system to make it easier for people to learn art.

Advantages of Numerical Notes in Indonesia

Until now, Indonesia is one of the few countries (along with China and several other Asian countries) that is still very active in using numerical notes because:

1. Economical: Easy to print and does not require special stave paper.

2. Relative Solmization: It is very easy for singers (choirs) to transpose (move the basic note) because the number 1 (do) always adjusts the chosen basic note.