Chinese music troupe strives to survive
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Beneath the escalator, amid the cosmetics counters that sprawl on the ground floor of Sogo Department Store, Plaza Senayan, Central Jakarta, a group of six elders were playing traditional Chinese instruments.
Dressed in blue cheong sam, they performed instrumental Chinese songs on ta yoan (banjo-like bass), xiao (traditional flute), erhu (a viola-like instrument) and yang kim. The last resembles the kecapi (an Indonesian stringed instrument), but unlike the kecapi, the yang kim player beats the strings with sticks.
Played together, the instruments produce music that creates a relaxing sensation.
Including middle-age businessmen, one of whom is 70 years old, the group claimed to be the only one in the country that performed with traditional Chinese instruments.
"Many groups perform barongsai (the lion dance), but none of them specializes in traditional Chinese musical instruments, as we do," group manager Rita Hansari, 40, said recently.
Simply named Grup Seni Musik Tionghoa, the group, comprising 15 members, has four women singers, and was established in 1999.
"We hope to preserve our ancestral (musical) tradition, to prevent it from becoming extinct, especially as Chinese culture was long banned in this country," said group member Tjhen Siung Yun, 60.
Back in the period when president Soeharto's regime was still in power, ethnic Chinese were banned from celebrating their New Year's Day openly. They were also banned from making an open display of cultural expression, as part of the regime's assimilation policy.
It was not until the year 2000 that the policy was revoked by president Abdurrahman Wahid.
Since the ban was lifted, the group has received a lot of invitations and today performs at least three times per month, mostly at wedding receptions.
"Around Chinese New Year, we can perform up to 40 times within the space of two weeks," Rita said.
With all the instruments, costumes and sheet music imported from China, the group has set a price of Rp 2.5 million to Rp 3.5 million (US$388.90) for a one-hour performance.
They play a range of Chinese music, from traditional, classical and opera to modern tunes, even Indonesian songs.
"These instruments have a wide range," Tjhen explained.
Playing many different kinds of instrument since the age 20 as a hobby, Tjhen said he was worried that the art would not be passed down to the younger generation.
"None of my children wants to learn how to play these instruments," said Tjhen, who is from the second generation of his family to live in this country.
Another obstacle is members' activities outside the group, which makes it difficult for them to find time to rehearse. Night rehearsals are the most convenient, but given their age, it is quite a burden for them.
"We're now preparing a school for young people to learn the craft. In the school that we're going to establish, they can learn means of Chinese cultural expression, like calligraphy, music, barongsai or opera," Rita said.
Despite the obstacles, Tjhen said he was content that Chinese cultural performances were no longer banned.
"I was asked repeatedly to change my name to make it sound more Indonesian. I could have changed my name to 100 others, but for what? I live here and I want to die here because my heart is here," he said.
"Thank God, although some forms of discrimination still exist, at least we can display our culture. Anywhere in the world, cultural expression should be freely permitted."