JP/7 /harmoni/set 1 cols Box

JP/7 /harmoni/set 1 cols Box

Musician creates melody from aluminum, bamboo, trays

SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): Asep Saerul Haris, a graduate
student of the Surakarta STSI music school, not only composed a
piece for his degree, but also designed his own instruments with
unique materials to produce specific tones and sounds.

In just one month, he finished his composition and determined
how it should be performed. His success earned his composition a
place in the forthcoming "Rhythms of Harmony" performance of
STSI, scheduled in Jakarta for June 18-19.

The performance, sponsored by the Indonesian Red Cross and The
British Council, will include traditional instruments such as the
Javanese gamelan and modern percussion instruments.

One of Asep's unique preparations included calibrating empty
bottles to recreate the sounds of a bubbling spring.

He filled the bottles with varying amounts of water, and added
tamarind seeds to others, depending on the sound desired.

Secured by strips of rubber on a wooden platform, the bottles
are played like a marimba, but sound more gentle.

Asep also used bamboo extensively in his effort to produce
specific effects.

He drove three kilograms of nails into five bamboo poles of
different lengths, then filled the poles with plastic beads and
marbles.

When swung from side to side or up and down, the instrument
creates a convincing imitation of the sound of flowing water.

Moved another way, the instrument sounds like crickets
chirping.

The Storm

Aluminum shaped into two simple forms produces the sounds of a
storm. When shaken vigorously, one long horizontal box filled
with strips of metal creates the crack of lightning, while the
other form, a circular tube, is cranked at high speed to make the
steel strips inside the aluminum roll like thunder.

These sounds, "symbolize challenges that we face every day ...
(which) can always be overcome," Asep said.

Another five pieces of bamboo of different lengths were
secured to two parallel bamboo poles to produce marimba-like
bubbly sounds.

Asep stressed, "My intention was not to imitate nature but to
distill its meaning, because nature is beautiful."

For this purpose, he taught male musicians to imitate frogs
croaking, dogs barking, etc. through the ingenious use of their
mouths and hands.

Asep's most unique-looking instrument is a very rough surfaced
winnowing tray on which green beans are slowly spilled, rubbed,
and allowed to slide from side to side until the motion rises to
a crescendo.

This depicts a storm, subsiding eventually into silence as a
women's choir recedes into an almost inaudible hum.

Hearing this in Ulalaho, one cannot help but be impressed by
the 11-minute original melody that will open the "Rhythms of
Harmony" repertoire.

The only "standard" instruments Asep uses are tom-toms for
accent and the rousing finale.

Describing the composition, Asep said that after the sounds of
thunder and lightning, it "ends with that indescribable peace and
serenity that sets in after a storm,"

Linda Miraflor is a member of the organizing committee for the
Rhythms of Harmony performance in Jakarta.

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