Indonesian Philharmonic Orchestra embraces ethnic nuances

JAKARTA (JP): An orchestra performing classical music is typical. But one presenting a blend of classical and ethnic music is unique.

That is just what the Indonesian Philharmonic Orchestra is doing. It is the commitment of this newly established orchestra -- led by noted conductor Yazeed Djamin -- to provide more space for classical composition with ethnic nuances.

In its premier performance on Tuesday evening, the 80-member orchestra presented several compositions, including Yazeed's Nyi Ronggeng, Maladi's Nyiur Hijau Variations, Joko S.' Ondel-Ondel and Polovtsian Dance, a piece by Russian composer A. Borodin.

To present compositions with ethnic tones like Nyi Ronggeng (Miss Ronggeng), Yazeed embraced traditional instruments, including the suling (Sundanese flute) and gendang (percussion instruments). He also made use of two sinden, or Sundanese folk singers.

"Indonesians are more familiar with jaipongan dance rather than ronggeng dance, which has now almost vanished. We have the obligation to prevent this from happening," Yazeed said of his reason for presenting Nyi Ronggeng.

Nyi Ronggeng is one of Yazeed's old compositions. The Nusantara Chamber Orchestra, which Yazeed helped found in 1988 and which is now known as the Indonesian Symphony Orchestra, performed the composition in Germany in 1988 where it received international recognition.

With Ondel-Ondel, Yazeed said he wanted to make the audience delve deeper into Betawi culture, the culture of native Jakartans.

Based on his studies, Yazeed said Betawi culture was influenced by Chinese culture and he accentuated this influence in Ondel-Ondel. He also featured the strong beats of tanjidor (a Jakarta orchestra which uses European brass instruments) in the composition.

Yazeed -- who received his doctorate of musical arts in piano performance from The Catholic University of America in Washington in 1988 -- said that for the orchestra's premier show, he focused on West Java and Betawi cultures.

"I will present 25 percent classical compositions and 75 percent compositions with ethnic nuances," Yazeed, who has performed in a number of orchestras abroad, said before the performance.

He said it was not strange to combine Indonesian ethnic music with classical music, saying the world's top musicians included ethnic tunes in their masterpieces.

"We maybe just do not realize that our richness is comparable to theirs," Yazeed said.

Performing ethnic music will not, however, prevent the orchestra from playing classical compositions from the West.

"I will still play classical compositions," the 49-year-old conductor said.

The orchestra is managed by the Indonesian Philharmonic Orchestra Foundation, which is chaired by President B.J. Habibie's son Ilham Habibie.

The orchestra's premier performance was part of the official inauguration of the foundation, which was established on April 5. The premier was attended by invited guests, including President Habibie and First Lady Hasri Ainun Habibie.

Ilham said adding the word "Indonesia" to the name of the orchestra was intended to help the orchestra absorb local cultures and integrate them into the world of classical music.

However, he said it was impossible to expect classical music to become a mass phenomenon by merely establishing the orchestra.

"Even in other countries, there are only certain people who like classical music," Ilham said. "I know that not everyone likes it (classical music)."

Most classical music performances here are attended by the same, small circle of classical music lovers.

Yazeed agreed that classical music was not appreciated by everybody, a fact he blamed on a lack of proper art education and cultural appreciation in schools.

He said that unlike here, in other countries most schools have their own orchestras.

"There's a need for parents to support this idea (to raise art and cultural appreciation)," Yazeed said.

Another leading composer, Addie MS and his Twilite Orchestra, also are trying to popularize classical music among the public, although they are taking a different approach. For some time, members of the Twilite orchestra have performed "light" classical music at Cafe Wien in Plaza Senayan, Central Jakarta.

Yazeed has his own ideas of how to promote classical music.

"My wish is to establish a distinctive orchestra. And I think we can achieve this with the help of our folk songs. If we keep on playing western classical compositions only, we'll never get bigger and will never be able to compete with other philharmonic orchestras from other, more advanced countries." (ste)