Jakarta stirs to percussion festival

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.