Nasida Ria

Nasida Ria is an Indonesian qasidah modern musical group consisting of 9 women from Semarang, Central Java. Nasida Ria was led by H. Mudrikah Zain but is now managed by Choliq Zain. Established in 1975, it is one of the oldest qasidah modern musical groups in Indonesia.Template:Sfn

History

In 1975, Nasida Ria was founded in Semarang, Central Java, by HM Zain, a teacher of qira'at (how to read the Qur'an); Zain had previously had experience with the mixed-gender group Assabab.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn He assembled nine of his students for the band: Mudrikah Zain, Mutoharoh, Rien Jamain, Umi Kholifah, Musyarofah, Nunung, Alfiyah, Kudriyah, and Nur Ain.Template:Sfn Initially, the group only used the rebana to provide music.Template:Sfn Later, then-mayor of Semarang and fan of the group Iman Soeparto Tjakrajoeda donated an organ to aid the group, which also facilitated their musical studies.Template:Sfn The group later acquired a bass, violin, and guitar.Template:Sfn

Nasida Ria's debut album, Alabaladil Makabul, was produced three years afterwards and marketed nationally by Ira Puspita Records.Template:Sfn Their songs were entirely based in dawah and drew influences from Arabic music.Template:Sfn The following three albums were similarly themed and included much Arabic chanting.Template:Sfn After a suggestion from kyai Ahmad Buchori Masruri that the songs would be more effective if entirely in Indonesian, Nasida Ria changed its style. Masruri also contributed songs under the pseudonym of Abu Ali Haidar.Template:Sfn

Nasida Ria's new style was shown to be popular, with several of the group's songs, including "Pengantin Baru" ("Newlyweds"), "Tahun 2000" ("Year 2000"), "Jilbab Putih" ("White Hijab"), "Anakku" ("My Child"), and "Kota Santri" ("City of Santri"), gaining much airplay in both rural villages and urban areas.Template:Sfn They also appeared on national television and toured the country.Template:Sfn

In 1988, Nasida Ria performed in Malaysia to celebrate the Islamic New Year on 1 Muharram.Template:Sfn Six years later, they performed in Berlin, Germany in Die Garten des Islam (The Islamic Cultural Exhibition) under invitation from the Haus der Kulturen der Welt.Template:Sfn In July 1996, they returned to Germany for the Heimatklange Festival, performing in Berlin, Mülheim, and Düsseldorf.Template:Sfn

After 2000, the group saw less success.Template:Sfn Several members were replaced, having died or left to further other goals.Template:Sfn

Nasida Ria is now headquartered in Semarang.Template:Sfn The current manager is Choliq Zain, son of their original manager.Template:Sfn

Style

According to Suara Merdeka, a Semarang-based newspaper, Nasida Ria mixes classic Arabic styles with modern, Western instruments.Template:Sfn Songwriters for the group often adapt traditional Arabic rhythms.Template:Sfn Their songs, although involving dawah, also touch on subjects like the press, justice, environmentalism, disasters, gambling, and warfare; Masruri notes that even songs with worldly themes have their root in the Qur'an.Template:Sfn

Awards and recognition

Nasida Ria has won several awards, including an award from the Islamic Cultural Center in 1989.Template:Sfn Their song "Perdamaian" ("Peace"), written by Masruri, was a "radio staple" during the Eid ul-Fitr season for several years and was covered by rock band Gigi on their 2005 album Raihlah Kemenangan (Reach for Victory).Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn "Kota Santri" has been covered by Krisdayanti and her ex-husband Anang.Template:Sfn

The Indonesian newspaper Republika notes that Nasida Ria was followed by other qasidah modern acts in the 1990s, including Haddad Alwi and Sulis, while in Malaysia the genre has been popularized by groups such as Raihan, Rabbani, Hijjaz, and Saujana.Template:Sfn

Discography

since July 2011Template:Dated maintenance category (articles), Nasida Ria has released 35 albums, including two Arabic-language ones.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn This includes 350 songs.Template:Sfn

Contributing artist

• The Rough Guide to the Music of Indonesia (2000, World Music Network)

References

Footnotes

Bibliography