(b Bukittinggi, Sumatra, 1963). Indonesian composer. His musical activity began early in the rural environment of his home, where traditional arts played a central part. After graduating from the Academy for the Indonesian Performing Arts in Padangpanjang in 1988, Halim studied karawitan (traditional music) at the Indonesian Academy for the Performing Arts in Surakarta, one of the centres for the development of contemporary traditional Indonesian music, where the teaching staff included the composers Rahayu Supanggah, A.L. Suwardi, Pande Sukerta and I Wayan Sadra. Having displayed great compositional talent as a student, in 1990 he formed a collaboration with the contemporary dance group Gumarang Sakti led by the leading Minangkabau choreographer Gusmiati Suid. Among Halim's many outstanding works for the group were Amai-Amai (1992), presented at the Jakarta Arts Building in 1994, and Awuak Tongtong (1993), performed at the Indonesian International Drum Festival in Jakarta. In Amai-Amai he employs almost the whole range of traditional Minangkabau instruments, while in Awuak Tongtong he uses the ritual forms of the Minangkabau culture to create a dynamic and involving work. A series of performing tours to Europe, America and New Zealand and to other Asian countries began in 1994. He teaches composition at the Academy for the Indonesian Performing Arts in Padangpanjang.
FRANKI RADEN