A love story between Jazz and Gamelan<\/p>\n
Christina Schott, Contributor, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
It starts very softly with a Javanese song, similar to the sort
\nthat would be chanted mantra-like by a dalang (puppet master).
\nThe song is mixed with little cries, reminiscent of animal noises
\nin the background and the sounds of gamelan instruments. It
\nreminds one of a wayang (leather puppet) performance.<\/p>\n
Then suddenly comes a reply from the other side: saxophone,
\npercussion and electronic sounds abruptly breaking the meditative
\natmosphere.<\/p>\n
A medley of Ska-like tones sweeps over the platform, before
\nthe music goes back to the gamelan -- only to be superseded again
\nby another jazzy sound.<\/p>\n
Pata Java is the latest project by the German music group Pata
\nMasters, one of the most famous contemporary Jazz Ensembles of
\nGermany. It was after their first tour through Indonesia in 2001
\nthat they got the idea of exploring a new sound mix: Javanese and
\nBalinese gamelans playing together with modern electronic sounds,
\npercussion, saxophone and flutes.<\/p>\n
They previously pioneered similar projects with musicians in
\nBrazil and Morocco with amazing results.<\/p>\n
The five musicians from Cologne have been playing together for
\nalmost 10 years. Pure Jazz is not the only element in their
\nmusic, they like to explore the roots of traditional and ethnic
\nmusic from all over the world: Pata Music, what they call their
\nown, special sound.<\/p>\n
The right partner for this ambitious project in Indonesia --
\norganized by the Goethe-Institut Jakarta and sponsored by
\nDaimler-Chrysler -- was found in Djaduk Ferianto and his group,
\nKua Etnika, famous for its new interpretations of traditional
\nIndonesian music.<\/p>\n
After considering the CDs of a number of Indonesian groups,
\nPata Masters found that Kua Etnika was the most suitable for
\ncollaboration on a joint project.<\/p>\n
\"Their gamelan music is not orthodox or traditional, but
\nreally lively and open to everything that can happen in the
\nfuture\", said Norbert Stein, the founder and director of the Pata
\nMasters.<\/p>\n
The artists from Yogyakarta started to listen to the music
\nfrom Germany and they also found something very promising that
\nthey could work on together.<\/p>\n
\"They perform something new and very interesting in their
\nmusic, almost cheeky. It seemed to me that they have the same
\nspirit and imagination of what music can mean as we do,\" Djaduk
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Not surprisingly, from the first day of collaboration between
\nthe two music groups, everything went smoothly. When the Germans
\narrived in Yogyakarta, Norbert Stein brought five composition
\nsketches with him and Djaduk four compositions of his own. Then
\nthey work together Kua Etnika studio.<\/p>\n
\"Neither of us tries to play a dominant role over the other.
\nWe accept and respect the experience and cultural background of
\neach other,\" says Djaduk.<\/p>\n
Both groups obviously enjoy the challenge of the new sound.
\nEven in the breaks between their long rehearsals, the musicians
\nshare experiences and try out each other's instruments.<\/p>\n
\"I have several gamelan instruments at home that I bought at
\nan auction many years ago,\" says Matthias van Welck, who traveled
\nthrough Java for the first time 15 years ago.<\/p>\n
\"So these sounds are still exotic, but not strange any more to
\nus. Still, there is always something new.\"<\/p>\n
The Indonesian musicians also enjoy trying out the African
\nslit drums and deep mallets van Welck brought with him. The
\nbiggest attraction, though, is probably the huge sub-contra-
\nbassfluite of Michael Heupel -- one of the few ever built in the
\nworld. Children from the neighborhood stand curiously beside the
\nopen-air studio and stare at the white strangers playing these
\nstrange instruments.<\/p>\n
Two worlds of tones with their different traditions
\nand tonalities meet in this very exciting experiment. \"It is
\nsomething really new,\" says Marla Stukenberg, head of the
\ncultural program department at the Goethe Institute.<\/p>\n
\"Although we still cannot fluently communicate in our
\nlanguages, we perfectly understand each other via music,\" Djaduk
\nsays.<\/p>\n
Pata Java will stage three concerts: Oct. 23, 8 pm,
\nGedung Sositet Militer, Taman Budaya Yogyakarta, Jl. Sriwedari 1,
\nYogyakarta; Oct. 26, 3.30 pm, Aula Barat ITB, Jl. Ganesha 10,
\nBandung; Oct. 29, 8 pm, Graha Bhakti Budaya, Taman Ismail Marzuki,
\nJl.Cikini Raya 73, Jakarta Pusat.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-love-story-between-jazz-and-gamelan-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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