Indonesian Philharmonic Orchestra embraces ethnic nuances

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)