Saodor
Ensemble

Short Bio — 100 words

Saodor Ensemble is an Indonesian music and sound art collective bridging the lamentation tradition of Andung, indigenous Batak instruments such as Taganing and Sulim, and contemporary electroacoustic practice. Founded in 2022, the ensemble works from a diaspora methodology — not preserving tradition, but adding color to it. Saodor's flagship work Lungun reconstructs the Batak Toba lamentation ritual as a 45-minute electroacoustic performance for five musicians. The ensemble has been curated for Classical:NEXT Berlin 2025 and selected as closing performance at Undercurrent London 2025.

Long Bio — 200 words

Saodor Ensemble is an Indonesian music and sound art collective focused on cross-traditional exploration, experimental practice, and the performativity of space. The name derives from the Batak Toba word sauduran, meaning "parallel" or "equal" — a philosophy that treats diverse Indonesian traditions as equal partners in dialogue, rather than hierarchical relationships.

Founded in 2022, the ensemble draws from backgrounds in classical music, contemporary music, and Indonesian vocal–ritual traditions. Saodor works with new compositions, structured improvisation, and sound technology to present immersive and reflective listening experiences. Projects often stem from cultural research — such as the Andung lamentation tradition of Batak Toba — translated into electroacoustic works, spatial performances, and cross-disciplinary collaborations.

The ensemble's flagship work Lungun premiered at Akademika Bentara – Bentara Budaya Bali in 2024 and was subsequently presented at Classical:NEXT Berlin 2025 and as the closing performance at Undercurrent: ESEA Sound and Performance Art Festival in London the same year. As a collective, Saodor actively builds networks with festivals, alternative spaces, and arts institutions, while developing long-term work that connects research practice, artistic production, and public presentation.