Gamelan performance enchants Melbourne

Gamelan performance enchants Melbourne

Dewi Anggraeni, Contributor, Melbourne, Australia

In this ever-shrinking world, ties of friendship develop
between disparate communities across the globe. These ties are
often tested, however, when the interests and expectations of one
side do not necessarily match the responses of the other. The
sense of hurt that follows may fester for a long time, if not
overcome by endeavors on the part of the stronger members of the
two communities, who are determined to maintain ties.

Since the bitter criticism of Indonesia from some people in
Australia in relation to the arrest and subsequent conviction of
Schapelle Corby in Bali, which caused some strains in the ties,
we have seen serious efforts by various groups of Australians to
repair the damage. Last Sunday, 17 July, we saw more fruit being
borne of this remarkable effort.

A grand performance of three gamelan orchestras, Permai,
Melbourne Community Gamelan, and Yarragam, complemented by
vocalists from Dharma Wanita Group Choir and three Javanese
dancers, kept a full-house audience riveted for nearly two hours
in the auditorium of the National Gallery of Victoria.

The concert, aptly named "The Art of Harmony" by the
organizers, namely the Australian-Indonesian Association of
Victoria, the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in
Melbourne, and the National Gallery of Victoria, went without a
hitch. At the end of it, the audience -- which consisted of
Australians of various ethnic backgrounds -- stirred as if waking
up reluctantly from a spell-binding dream.

Permai, the Australian-Indonesian Association's own gamelan
group, performed first. It performed two suites of slendro pathet
manyura and slendro pathet songo, led by Ki Poedijono. The music
released, then spread, an enchanting ambience on a classical and
mellow air, which turned rather playful toward the end. Some solo
phrases from Ki Poedijono and singer Ria Soemardjo blended in
with the fluid sounds of the gamelan, alternating seamlessly with
the Dharma Wanita Group Choir.

The changeover to Melbourne Community Gamelan took barely
thirty seconds, and it could have gone unnoticed if not for the
verbal introduction from one of its members. The group played
more vibrant music that filled the auditorium, which has perfect
acoustics, with a more contemporary mood. The first number, Nyi
Gemi Raras, was actually composed by Ki Poedijono himself.

As if concerned that the audience by now might need some
rousing up, Yarragam, whose name is an amalgam of Yarra, the
main river in Melbourne, and gamelan, opened its performance with
a lively Gendhing Lancaran Yarragam, infecting the audience with
its vigor. When it accompanied the dancers of Gambyong and the
solo dance of Gambir Anom, those who had to sit on the floor at
the front were seen moving and swaying in time with the beat and
rhythm.

In his final word of thanks to the audience as well as the
performers, Paul Grenda, president of the Australian-Indonesian
Association, confessed that the afternoon's event had exceeded
his expectations. His sentiments were shared by many on the
organizing committee. Not only was the auditorium overflowing,
with up to 200 people standing along the sides and the back and
some sitting on the floor at the front, but the magic of the
whole performance was still being felt well after the resonance
of the last note had subsided.

It was magnificent.

The three gamelan groups began and developed under the
tutelage of Ki Poedijono, whose dedication to the teaching of the
art of gamelan and wayang in Australia to Australians of all
ages earned him an OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia) in last
year's Australia Day honors list. The members of these groups
come from different segments of Australian society, the public
and private sectors, and academia.

Since its inception in July 1992, Permai has performed at many
events, including a welcoming function for Sri Sultan Hamengku
Buwono X. It has traveled, by invitation, around Victoria and
other states.

Yarragam and Melbourne Community Gamelan have also
independently established reputations for their fine performances
and similarly attract large audiences whenever and wherever they
perform.

These three groups have proved that the power of the arts can
strengthen cross-community ties like no other; they have
withstood the test of time, where instances of conflict have
failed to drive a wedge between the Australian and Indonesian
communities. It is a credit to the present and previous consul
generals and their staff, who clearly realize this and work
tirelessly toward nurturing this quiet, unassuming power.