Jakarta stirs to percussion festival

By Helly Minarti

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta continues to celebrate its 470th anniversary which was held on June 22 with festivities galore to mark the special occasion. The latest celebration is the Jakarta Percussion Festival '97 (Jakperc '97) which will be held on July 8 to July 9 at the Jakarta Fairground, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

Featuring 11 percussion groups -- five from overseas and six from Indonesia -- this festival offers a wide variety of sounds, sights and rhythms.

"Compared to last year's festival, this year is more interesting. Not only do we have more participants, but they also stem from various backgrounds as reflected in their rich musical elements," said Jakperc '97 chairman Franki Raden.

A composer himself, Franki is actively involved in the Jakarta Percussion Orchestra which aims to introduce colorful Indonesian percussion music to the international audience. Consisting of 22 musicians, the orchestra uses instruments from many different local traditions. Its compositions are mostly based on traditional musical elements, although it combines contemporary techniques and ideas. The orchestra will demonstrate the traditional Betawi (native Jakarta) rebana (tambourine) music -- a rhythmically complex music which demands technical virtuosity.

"What I imply here is the musical concept of the rhythmical pattern of Betawi music. I have been doing my own research on this subject for a long time," Franki explained.

Harry Roesli, the only Indonesian percussionist to have studied percussion formally at the Rotterdam conservatory, will take part in the festival for the second time. Marked by his humor and satirical wit, he will present a sociopolitical allegory titled Guru kencing berdiri, murid kencing berlari (The teacher pees by standing and the pupils by running). It's an old Indonesian saying which means that people tend to follow the wrong deeds from their patron.

Roesli will also present Musik Jantung (Heartbeat's Music). This unique creation is based on the recording of his own heartbeat, which will be played with the help of MIDI technology and some effects.

Harry Roesli will be accompanied by Doel Sumbang, a popular singer whose early hits were social-critic songs.

Inisisri, another Indonesian percussionist who took part in the last festival, will perform a duet with Sapto Raharjo -- both represent the natural talent in music. Their composition, Lingkaran (The Circle) refers to a life cycle. "This can be mean from birth to death, or just from morning-to-morning," said Inisisri.

Lingkaran is an experimental composition which imitates traditional Javanese music but doesn't adapt its pentatonic scale. In fact, no traditional instruments will be heard in the 20 minute score which incorporates the keyboard and MIDI technology.

Inisisri and Sapto Raharjo's international experience will add an unique blend of talent to the festival. They are both looking forward to a jam session with French percussionist Alex Grillo who will also perform with the Jakarta Percussion Orchestra.

Jakperc '97 will also present a remarkable young musician, Gilang Ramadhan, one of Indonesia's most outstanding drummers. He is a member of Krakatau -- a popular fusion-jazz group.

The Kyai Kanjeng led by Emha Ainun Najib -- a young popular Moslem scholar -- is another unique performance which includes a religious touch. Ben Pasaribu, another participant from Medan, North Sumatra, will demonstrate his contemporary music enriched by his homeland. A ethnomusicologist graduate from Wesleyan University, he often uses traditional elements in his performances, namely Batak's gondang. Ben is the Dean of Faculty of Arts at the University of Nomensen in Medan. He is in charge of the music department and teaches composition.

Foreigners

Alex Grillo is a composer-percussionist-actor who represents the new generation of French musicians. His musical interests cover a wide variety of genres, particularly jazz and Latin music. He started developing his passion in contemporary music two decades ago. In 1995 he collaborated with an experimental music group from Marseille to release a project called la Perte. He is the first musician to perform an underwater music concert in Nice, Lisbon and Brisbane in 1989.

Australian group Tokakros combines the two hottest trends in the Australian music scene today: acappella and drums. This group creates new sounds with ancient resonances. Collaboratively writing and arranging their music, they have been inspired by traditional drums from India, the Middle East and Latin America and harmonious singing from Eastern Europe and Polynesia. A dance beat glues together their numerous cultural substances.

New Zealand's The From Scratch has an international reputation for being innovative and vibrant musicians. The four group members' compelling style is easily recognized by their original instruments invented by its composer and founding member, Phil Dadson. Their music combines 20th century traditional western percussion music and Pacific influences.

Amy Knoles from the U.S. is a rare talent among a percussion lineup which seems to be dominated by men. Amy has traversed the world performing her music which combines electronic percussion and MIDI technology. Knoles is also the founder of the E.A.R. Unit in California, a music group which regularly takes part in the Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group's concert. During her musical career she has collaborated with several world famous musicians such as Pierre Boulez, John Cape, Steve Reich and John Adams. Big recording companies such as CBS, Nonesuch, RCA and New Albion have recorded her music. Jakarta Percussion Festival '97 is supported by UNESCO.