3 new performers for TIM Festival

JAKARTA (JP): A Wayang Kulit (shadow puppet) show, an acappella rendition of Islamic poetry and a Sa'Unine string quartet performance are the latest additions to the 12-day 1997 November Festival at the Taman Ismail Marzuki art center.

The puppet show, titled Hanoman Obong, will be presented today by puppet master Sujiwo Tedjo.

"I want to tell my version of the role played by Hanoman (the wise, white monkey in the famous Hindu Ramayana epic) in burning the forests of the Alengka kingdom," Tedjo said Thursday.

Local acappella groups -- Suara Persaudaraan from the state- run Teacher's Training College (IKIP) in Malang, East Java, Snada and Izzatul Islam from the University of Indonesia -- will perform Nasyid, poetic songs that originated in the Middle East and took root in Indonesia in the 1980s.

The three groups will perform at the art center's Graha Bhakti Budaya Stadium on Wednesday, the last day of the festival on Nov. 12.

The quartet -- comprising Oni Krisnerwinto, Syahrier Helmy, Surtihadi and Dimawan Krisnowo -- will "string together tunes of jazz and rock 'n' roll" during the festival's 11th day.

The quartet has been involved in different musical workshops in Canada, the Netherlands and the U.S.

The 1997 November Festival will celebrate the 29th anniversary of the opening of Taman Ismail Marzuki. (02)