Community-Based Strategies for Revitalizing Tingkilan Music in Kutai Kartanegara

Abstract

This study explores community-based revitalization strategies for Tingkilan music in Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan, through the lens of applied ethnomusicology. Tingkilan, a traditional musical form central to Kutai identity, is facing challenges in maintaining its relevance in modern society. The research focuses on the Olah Gubang Division’s innovative efforts as a model for community-led preservation and adaptation.Using qualitative methods participant observation, ethnographic interviews, and musical analysis the study examines how local communities engage in cultural preservation while creatively adapting Tingkilan. It highlights the dual character of Tingkilan in Tenggarong: traditional forms that uphold communal and spiritual values, and contemporary versions that integrate modern instruments and popular genres. A key focus is the Olah Gubang Division’s arrangements, which blend Tingkilan’s traditional modal structure (D-E-F#-G-A-B-C#-D) with elements from pop and keroncong. Through analysis of works like “Perlipur Lara,” the study shows how these adaptations maintain core musical identity while appealing to younger audiences.Two main drivers of transformation are identified: internal needs to shorten performances for modern contexts, and external pressures from globalization and technological change. The findings demonstrate how applied ethnomusicology can support culturally grounded yet socially relevant preservation strategies. Ultimately, the study argues that sustainable revitalization depends on community ownership, strategic innovation, and the retention of cultural values. It offers a replicable model for other how academic research can empower local cultural efforts and ensure the vitality of endangered musical traditions in contemporary settings.