Culture of Jember
Jember is a regency of East Java province, Indonesia.
Patrol
Patrol is one of traditional art music that very famous and spread in East Java, especially at Jember. Patrol using a simple musical instrument, that is kentongan. Patrol used various sized of Kentongan and it is sounded regularly to produce a beautiful and pleasant voice to be heard. Beside used Kentongan, the music player also accompanied by Seruling (It is what makes difference between Patrol Music with Tongtong Music from Madura which using Saronen as wind instruments.
Patrol started from Jember people's habits in the past that likes to keep pigeons. From that habit, some people became accustomed with percussion musical instruments. At first, it is only used for a method to call pigeons. When people who keep pigeons are increase, this percussion musical instruments developed into a distinct rhythm. As time goes by, Patrol developed become a folk music and become a communication devices. Then, Patrol also developed as the music of the plantation guards. Patrol more developed during the holy month of Ramadan to awaken the citizens at meal time (sahur), because majority citizens of Jember are muslims.
Patrol is usually played in groups with various size of kentongan . Each size has a different tone , so the arrangement of each tone is very necessary in this Patrol Music. Kentongan instruments are usually made of bamboo and wood. The one which made of bamboo is usually has smaller size and squeaky sound. While it made of wood, it should be big, the voice is deep, and loud as well. The patrol music performance need needs both bamboo and wooden kentongan in various size to make a typical harmony of patrol.
A patrol music performance have all kinds of Kentongan which are collaborated become one serving of a beautiful music instument. In each performance usually bring some songs which are packed with the typical style of Patrol Music. The song are usually folk songs, songs for playing traditional games, and even the modern one like dangdut or campursari. All songs which are performed are packaged in the style of Patrol music.
In jember, there are many patrol groups, but each of them has their own creativity. It can be from the instrument, music aransement, costum and performance. From the instrumental aspect, there some groups that added another music instrument suc as jidor, ketipung, plastic drum, angklung, etc. They added the instruments as creation in order to make the sound more various and different from the other groups. From costum aspect, each patrol groups has their own creativity. They usually wear their region dress, traditional clothes, or costum from their own design in order to make their group more unique and interesting.
Before 2001, it can be said that Jember regency government is less pay attention to the Patrol music. There are not much effort that government did in order to developing this traditional music. Either training program or competition are not held by the government to attract the Jember artist interested in order to developing the cultural. The artists patrol was just pour the expression in the surrounding area. Each specific event or Ramadan they play in their area. Realizing it through UKM artistic Jember University eforts to maintain and preserve the culture. On 7-9 November 2001, Art UKM Jember University was first organized music festival Patrol. Ultimately UKM artistic Jember University routinely held music festivals patrol. Start from Jember University's main road, the Patrol group is starting to play his music after that they left one by one to wander the Jember streets and plays music with the melodic Patrol to awaken and accompany the residents Jember being dawn.
Jember Fashion Carnival
Jember Fashion Carnival is an annual event. In the tenth carnival in 2011, over 600 participants walked along the world's longest catwalk. It ran for 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi), along on Sudirman Street (Central Park) nad Gajah Mada Street up to Jember Sport Hall.[1]