Gamelan performance enchants Melbourne<\/p>\n
Dewi Anggraeni, Contributor, Melbourne, Australia<\/p>\n
In this ever-shrinking world, ties of friendship develop
\nbetween disparate communities across the globe. These ties are
\noften tested, however, when the interests and expectations of one
\nside do not necessarily match the responses of the other. The
\nsense of hurt that follows may fester for a long time, if not
\novercome by endeavors on the part of the stronger members of the
\ntwo communities, who are determined to maintain ties.<\/p>\n
Since the bitter criticism of Indonesia from some people in
\nAustralia in relation to the arrest and subsequent conviction of
\nSchapelle Corby in Bali, which caused some strains in the ties,
\nwe have seen serious efforts by various groups of Australians to
\nrepair the damage. Last Sunday, 17 July, we saw more fruit being
\nborne of this remarkable effort.<\/p>\n
A grand performance of three gamelan orchestras, Permai,
\nMelbourne Community Gamelan, and Yarragam, complemented by
\nvocalists from Dharma Wanita Group Choir and three Javanese
\ndancers, kept a full-house audience riveted for nearly two hours
\nin the auditorium of the National Gallery of Victoria.<\/p>\n
The concert, aptly named \"The Art of Harmony\" by the
\norganizers, namely the Australian-Indonesian Association of
\nVictoria, the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in
\nMelbourne, and the National Gallery of Victoria, went without a
\nhitch. At the end of it, the audience -- which consisted of
\nAustralians of various ethnic backgrounds -- stirred as if waking
\nup reluctantly from a spell-binding dream.<\/p>\n
Permai, the Australian-Indonesian Association's own gamelan
\ngroup, performed first. It performed two suites of slendro pathet
\nmanyura and slendro pathet songo, led by Ki Poedijono. The music
\nreleased, then spread, an enchanting ambience on a classical and
\nmellow air, which turned rather playful toward the end. Some solo
\nphrases from Ki Poedijono and singer Ria Soemardjo blended in
\nwith the fluid sounds of the gamelan, alternating seamlessly with
\nthe Dharma Wanita Group Choir.<\/p>\n
The changeover to Melbourne Community Gamelan took barely
\nthirty seconds, and it could have gone unnoticed if not for the
\nverbal introduction from one of its members. The group played
\nmore vibrant music that filled the auditorium, which has perfect
\nacoustics, with a more contemporary mood. The first number, Nyi
\nGemi Raras, was actually composed by Ki Poedijono himself.<\/p>\n
As if concerned that the audience by now might need some
\nrousing up, Yarragam, whose name is an amalgam of Yarra, the
\nmain river in Melbourne, and gamelan, opened its performance with
\na lively Gendhing Lancaran Yarragam, infecting the audience with
\nits vigor. When it accompanied the dancers of Gambyong and the
\nsolo dance of Gambir Anom, those who had to sit on the floor at
\nthe front were seen moving and swaying in time with the beat and
\nrhythm.<\/p>\n
In his final word of thanks to the audience as well as the
\nperformers, Paul Grenda, president of the Australian-Indonesian
\nAssociation, confessed that the afternoon's event had exceeded
\nhis expectations. His sentiments were shared by many on the
\norganizing committee. Not only was the auditorium overflowing,
\nwith up to 200 people standing along the sides and the back and
\nsome sitting on the floor at the front, but the magic of the
\nwhole performance was still being felt well after the resonance
\nof the last note had subsided.<\/p>\n
It was magnificent.<\/p>\n
The three gamelan groups began and developed under the
\ntutelage of Ki Poedijono, whose dedication to the teaching of the
\nart of gamelan and wayang in Australia to Australians of all
\nages earned him an OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia) in last
\nyear's Australia Day honors list. The members of these groups
\ncome from different segments of Australian society, the public
\nand private sectors, and academia.<\/p>\n
Since its inception in July 1992, Permai has performed at many
\nevents, including a welcoming function for Sri Sultan Hamengku
\nBuwono X. It has traveled, by invitation, around Victoria and
\nother states.<\/p>\n
Yarragam and Melbourne Community Gamelan have also
\nindependently established reputations for their fine performances
\nand similarly attract large audiences whenever and wherever they
\nperform.<\/p>\n
These three groups have proved that the power of the arts can
\nstrengthen cross-community ties like no other; they have
\nwithstood the test of time, where instances of conflict have
\nfailed to drive a wedge between the Australian and Indonesian
\ncommunities. It is a credit to the present and previous consul
\ngenerals and their staff, who clearly realize this and work
\ntirelessly toward nurturing this quiet, unassuming power.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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