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.