I must say that I’m fascinated by this new gamelan music movement in Buffalo. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been following Matt Dunning’s (Artistic Director, Gamelan Sari Raras Irama) epic adventure, ever since he moved back to Buffalo in 2013.
Rarely do I come across someone who is not only passionate about starting a movement, but who is able to pull it off with such zeal and fortitude…. in a relatively short amount of time. After all, we’re not talking about a small feat here – we’re talking about a herculean lift that saw Dunning and company haul 16,000 pounds of gamelan instruments to Buffalo, from Indonesia. In the process, Buffalo – virtually overnight – became one of the biggest hotbeds for gamelan music outside of Indonesia.
And along with the instruments comes the complex, heartfelt compositions performed by masterful musicians who play hand-crafted pieces that range from saron and bonang, to gongs, drums, bamboo flutes, bow strings, and pluck strings.
Adding to that excitement, Nusantara Arts has commissioned a number of Javanese composers to create new pieces that tie together Buffalo and Indonesia in a way that must be heard (in person) to truly understand and appreciate.
Musicians from diverse communities in Central Java were encouraged to participate, creating an eclectic representation of participants and compositions.
“As an instrument and culture with deep historical roots, most gamelan pieces played today are akin to western ‘classical’ pieces,” Dunning told me, per the 12 new major works by seasoned Javanese masters as well as newcomers.
“This allows for gamelan musicians to preserve important knowledge, skills and cultural moments. However, innovative contemporary Javanese composers are creating remarkable new works that stretch the boundaries of classical formats into new territory. Nusantara Arts wanted to be part of this movement and the important context and growth of this art form, which is why we commissioned these new pieces. We wanted the people of Buffalo to be sitting in the front row for these important cultural moments, to create a vibrant connection between cultural events in Indonesia and our own community.”
Composers were tasked with creating pieces that could be performed by any gamelan group in the world using standard notation and musical techniques.
The Composers
Bambang Sosodoro Rawan Jayantoro, hails from Klaten, Central Java, an area near Solo with many villages and a rich cultural tradition. He is a professor of Karawitan (Javanese music) at the Institute of Art Indonesia Surakarta but also spends much of his time performing with the elite cultural institutions in Solo. He performs regularly as a court musician and composer at the Kraton Kasunanan and Pura Mangkunegaran palaces. I.M. Harjito is one of the finest living Javanese musicians and a prolific composer of traditional and experimental gamelan pieces. A graduate of Indonesia’s state conservatory for the traditional performing arts (ISI), he worked closely with one of the major figures of 20th-C Javanese music, Martopangrawit. He has directed gamelan ensembles in Indonesia and the U.S. He is currently on faculty at Wesleyan University. Untung Wiarso Warso Diprojo studied karawitan (Javanese musical culture) at the renowned SMKI Solo performing arts highschool and in his home village of Jagalan, a village famous for producing fine gamelan musicians. He later studied wayang Kulit shadow puppetry at the Mangkunegaran Palace Art Academy. He gained considerable experience at the Kraton Solo palace, performing in villages around Solo, teaching karawitan at the Chakra Home Stay and playing with the Condhong Rumaos gamelan group. His musical mentor is Bapak Suyadi Tejo pangrawit and gains inspiration from a desire to preserve Javanese musical traditions Immanuel Yulius Henri Pradana from the Pucangsawit village in Solo, started playing gamelan at an early age. He graduated from both SMKI performing arts High school and the Arts Institute of Indonesia. He plays with several gamelan groups such as Cahya Laras, Condhong Rumaos, Madangkara, and Pujangga Laras. Henri is active as a court servant (abdidalem) of the Keraton Kasunanan where he performs gamelan music. He has many musical inspirations including Suwito Radyo, Sukamso, Surono, and the late Slamet Subroto Yohanes Subowo is a gamelan composer from Yogyakarta, which has a unique style of central Javanese gamelan compared to Surakarta(Solo) style. He has a masters degree in music composition from Institute of the Arts (ISI) Surakarta and is known for his unique modern compositions and collaborations that bring gamelan practices from all around Indonesia for his COMOTAN project. He is also involved with the GUWOWIJOYO community which performs Javanese style music for the Ramayana Ballet at Prambanan temple theater. |
On Sunday May 1, 2022, the community is invited to attend a concert featuring a series of five new compositions, performed for the very first time outside of Indonesia. With a range of music – from traditional to contemporary – the compositions will include works by Sinugraha/Suka Sokur by world renowned gamelan master I.M Harjito, who will be joining Nusantara Arts for the performance.
Javanese Gamelan Music Show with special guest artist I.M. Harjito
Featuring 5 new Javanese music compositions making their American debut
Sunday May 1, 2022
4-6 PM
Cost: Sliding Scale
Nusantara Arts Performance Center @ St. Johns Grace Episcopal. 51 Colonial Circle, Buffalo, NY 14222
Program Sponsored By The Cullen Foundation, Art Services Inc., and Erie County
Lead image by Brendan Bannon