Composers' Week in the swing to debut latest compositions

JAKARTA (JP): Ten years after disappearing from the cultural events calendar, Composers' Week will once again entertain Jakartans as talented artists perform their latest compositions.

Formerly an annual event, Composers' Week was first held in 1979, but it halted in 1988 due to the absence of people who were really committed to making it into a forum to develop talent.

During its first nine years, 46 composers from various musical backgrounds premiered 62 compositions.

Otto Sidharta, a noted composer himself and chairman of the organizing committee, said the revival of the event would serve an important part in galvanizing the creativity process of local composers.

"Many well-known composers nowadays were 'born' from these events," Otto said.

Participants in previous festivals included Franki Raden, Harry Roesli, I Wayan Sadra and Jadug Ferianto.

In this year's event, 10 composers from eight groups will perform their latest creations, Otto said.

Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso is scheduled to open the five-day event at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, the Jakarta playhouse, on Wednesday.

Shows begin on all days at 7 p.m.

Didi AGP will perform first at the festival with his latest composition, Rumah Tangga II (Household II), which is composed of the sounds of household appliances and other machinery.

The noise of washing machines, frying pans, printers, electric shavers and other appliances had to go through recording, editing and other processes before final presentation. The composition describes the realities of the household situation from the composer's viewpoint.

Iwan Syirwan will perform immediately after Didi and present three of his latest compositions, Tabedo (Miserable), Talu Ba Talu (Repeated) and Taratak (Small Village), with traditional musical instruments from Padang, West Sumatra.

On the second day, Embi C. Noer takes the stage at 7 p.m., blending sounds of traditional musical instruments from Cirebon, West Java, and modern musical instruments, such as keyboard and electronic percussion.

On Friday, composer Iwan Hasan will perform three of his latest compositions: Terbatas (Limited), Condissonance for Violin, Bass Clarinet and Harp-guitar, Oret-Oretan Untuk Flute dan Gitar (Sketches for Flute and Guitar) and 1998. Showtime is 7 p.m.

Next on will be B. Subono, whose compositions are used by several noted puppeteers in their shows.

Composers to perform Saturday include I.G. Kompyang Raka, I Wayan Sadra and I Pande Made Sukerta. The three Balinese will perform Bon Bali, a composition dominated by traditional musical instruments from their home province.

Tickets for each of the performances, with prices set between Rp 10,000 and Rp 15,000, are available at GKJ (Tel. 380-8283, 344-1892) from Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or at the ticket window at showtime.

In addition, a series of seminars and discussions will also be held in Gedung Kesenian Jakarta's lobby area, starting Wednesday at 9 a.m. Scheduled speakers are Ben M. Pasaribu, I.G. Komang Astita, Remy Sylado, Franki Raden, Otto Sidharta Totom Kodrat and Suka Hardjana. More information is available from GKJ. (ste)