Djaduk's Kua Etnika mixes music and fun<\/p>\n
Text and photo by Kartika Bagus C.<\/p>\n
SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): Imagine the sight of a bunch of
\nadults playing around with whistles, toy pistols and small
\ntrumpets. Perhaps it would be taken as a bit of regression and
\nthe enjoyment of a second childhood, a chance to escape the
\nstress of daily life.<\/p>\n
But put those same toys in the hands of established musicians
\nlike Djaduk Ferianto and his Kua Etnika, a group known for its
\ndeep involvement in the development of ethnic music, and you have
\nsomething of value.<\/p>\n
Being Playful was one of the 11 compositions in a musical
\nperformance called Unen-unen (sounds) last Saturday at the Grand
\nTheater of the Indonesian Art Institute (STSI) Surakarta. The
\nother compositions were Merapi Horeg (Merapi Quivers), Kembang
\nBoreh (Wilted Flower), Blue Jeans Biru (Blue Blue Jeans), Susul
\nSusuling (Chasing each other), TumBend Tak Drum Band (Why Has it
\nBeen So Long Since You Played in the Drumband?), Galaxi, Arigato
\n(Separation), Kupu Tarung (Butterflies Fight) and Festival.<\/p>\n
Djaduk and Kua Etnika mesmerized the audience, who had waited
\nsome time for the performers to take the stage after some
\ntechnical problems were fixed.<\/p>\n
During the performance, traditional musical instruments formed
\nthe greater part of all the instruments used on the large stage.
\nThere were percussion instruments from Java and Bali (gamelan), a
\nkeyboard, flutes and African jembe. Unen-unen was spectacular in
\nthat it presented music of different ethnic traditions, a
\ncombination of Javanese, Balinese, Sundanese, Betawi, Kalimantan,
\nChinese, Japanese and African music.<\/p>\n
Unen-unen was based on a spirit to communicate with art
\nlovers. Every sound and voice was not just \"musical material\" but
\nalso a medium of communication. Djaduk said that Kua Etnika set
\nout to process dialog and interaction between traditions as
\ninteraction between individuals and the surrounding world.<\/p>\n
\"To liken this to a journey, this is like asking people to
\nmake a journey inside oneself,\" said the 37-year-old father of
\nfour.<\/p>\n
In the process of communication, Indonesia's present social
\nand political conditions added color to each composition. A
\ncomposition called Main-Main (Just For Fun), for example, could
\nbe interpreted as an invitation to all of us to play around with
\nour own lives before other people play around with us. This is a
\nreflection on the House of Representatives, the \"esteemed\"
\nrepresentatives of the people, who are simply playing around with
\ntheir own agendas.<\/p>\n
As for Kembang Boreh, a flower symbolizes the process of life,
\nat first beautiful and then slowing wilting and dying. It could
\nbe taken as a metaphor of this nation, which is slowly rotting in
\nterms of morality of the Indonesian people and the concept of
\nlife.<\/p>\n
Kua Etnika was set up in 1996 in Yogyakarta. Members include
\nButet Kartaredjasa, Indra Tranggono and Poerwanto. The group is
\ndedicated to the development of music stemming from various
\ncultures in Indonesia. Thanks to creative breakthroughs, the
\ngroup has successfully introduced ethnic music to the public.<\/p>\n
They have interpreted and reprised various ethnic musical
\npieces in Indonesia to make them more accessible to the general
\npublic. They hope that their music will be a cultural product
\nthat can be appreciated at home and abroad.<\/p>\n
Kua Etnika, which has a temporary rehearsal space located in a
\nrural area, has successfully collaborated with other groups in
\nDua Warna (Two Colors), a musical program aired by private
\ntelevision station RCTI. It also participated successfully in a
\nworld musical event held in Bali in early 2000 under the theme of
\nSacred Rhythm: the Millennium Percussion for Unity. It has also
\narranged music for dance performances by Padepokan Tari Bagong
\nKusudiharja (Bagong Kusudiharja Dance Workshop), Eksotika
\nKarmawibangga, Miroto Dancer, Sentot Budiharto, Teater Koma,
\nTeater Gandrik and several domestic film companies.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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