'Gatholocho', folk art with moral lessons<\/p>\n
Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
During Soeharto's regime, Serat Gatholocho, a Javanese chronicle,
\nwas banned because it was deemed offensive to a particular
\nreligion. Now, five years after the regime fell, it remains
\nunclear whether the ban has been lifted.<\/p>\n
The ban also knocked down a local folk art by the same name
\nalthough the connection between the book and the art is
\ndebatable.<\/p>\n
Notwithstanding the ban, in a small village on the slopes of
\nMenoreh mountain range in Magelang, Central Java, a folk dance
\ncalled Gatholocho is still alive and kicking.<\/p>\n
"I don't think the Gatholocho art is in any way related to the
\nbook. To the best of my knowledge, this art form has been passed
\non for at least three generations," an elder, Jaelani, 78, told
\nThe Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
In the village of Pringapus, Magelang, Gatholocho made a
\ncomeback in 2001 after decades of absence.<\/p>\n
"Some senior citizens here still have a good memory of the art
\nso they could help considerably when I asked them to revive this
\nfolk art. Largely because of the written record of the art that
\nmy late grandfather had made, we had no difficulty in reviving
\nthis folk art," said Agus Purwantoro, the head of the Gatholocho
\ntroupe, Sungguh Gatholocho Madyo Pitutur.<\/p>\n
Like some other folk dances in the region, Gatholocho relies
\non the accompaniment of rebana (tambourine), and drums that come
\nin three sizes.<\/p>\n
The movements are a combination of classical Javanese dance,
\nmartial art and modern fitness exercises. The costumes of the
\nall-male dancers show a blend of the western fashion and the
\ntraditional Javanese style, a combination reminiscent of the
\nuniform that the Dutch colonial soldiers usually donned.<\/p>\n
Lyrics are sung to accompany a Gatholoco performance. Each of
\nthem has its own mission and the themes vary, ranging from
\ntraditional customs and mores, the changing of seasons,
\nagriculture, health and beliefs on how to get along with people.<\/p>\n
Purwanto, a graduate of Indonesian Institute of Arts in
\nYogyakarta and now residing at Pringapus village, said this art,
\nwhich specifically belongs to the Pringapus villagers, was
\ncreated some time in 1942 by a man named Mbah Suryan.<\/p>\n
Strangely, as a ban was slapped on Serat Gatholocho, the
\nGatholocho performance also sank into oblivion.<\/p>\n
A Gatholocho performance usually lasts the whole night and
\ninvolves 20 dancers and 10 music players. Each song has its own
\nparticular meaning and also entails a different dance movement.
\nInterestingly, after one song is sung, one of the dancers will go
\ninto a trance, a reason why there is a mystical element in this
\ndance.<\/p>\n
The dancer will ask that the most favorite song be sung.
\nUsually this is a campur sari, a type of modern Javanese song now
\ngaining great popularity. When this song has been sung, the
\ndancer will regain his consciousness after throwing his body at
\none of the drums.<\/p>\n
The part of the performance in which a dancer goes into a
\ntrance is usually the most exciting part for the audience because
\nthe dancer will usually make funny movements or say humorous
\nwords. It is this comical element of the performance that may be
\nthe reason why the performance is called Gatholocho, a word
\ncoined from the Javanese words of grathul-grathul ning lucu
\n(broken but funny speeches)," said Mbah Jaelani, who was an
\nactive Gatholocho performer in the 1960s.<\/p>\n
In short, Gatholocho is a traditional folk art containing a
\ndeep philosophical substance, a form of entertainment that
\ncombines the elements of humor and mysticism and is easy to
\ndigest.<\/p>\n
Gatholocho to be performed on Oct. 18, 2003 between 7 p.m. and 10
\np.m. at Bentara Budaya Yogyakarta.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gatholocho-folk-art-with-moral-lessons-1447893297",
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