Musician Djaduk releases new album 'Quintessence'

Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

Without much publicity, a new solo album titled Quintessence from Yogyakarta musician Djaduk Ferianto was released here on Thursday.

Working intently on the album throughout the fasting month of Ramadhan, the musician said his new solo effort had earned a special place in his career since he did most of the recording himself and it reflected his 25 years of experience in the music business as evidenced by the compositions and instruments that were used.

Djaduk said before the album's release that the new album was a departure from his group's currently popular humorous style of music as it contained some serious songs.

"Completing this album was a big challenge for me because generally, the music that my group and I play is often considered humorous. So I planned to introduce this album abroad because I wasn't not sure if the Indonesian public would like it," Djaduk said from his Kua Etnika group's studio in Kersan village in Bantul, Yogyakarta.

Djaduk is not new to the music scene. Apart from regularly collaborating with foreign artists and performing abroad, he has performed locally several times under a different pseudonym -- Kua Etnika, Sinten Remen Orchestra -- in which he tries to give traditional music a modern touch without losing the spirit of its roots, or the Gandrik Theatrical Group. He also arranges the music for theater movies and made-for-TV movies.

This new album comprises, among other songs, Java Today, Prosesi (Procession), The Waves, Bakteri (Bacteria), Quintessence, Soraneforia, Jathilan and Srengenge.

In the newly released album, the music is mostly played on traditional instruments of the Javanese gamelan orchestra along with small Sundanese drums, bamboo flutes and modern instruments, such as the keyboard.

He also received assistance from a computer programmer to record, one by one, each instrument that he played.

"If you were to ask me if I felt satisfied after producing this album and playing all those compositions by myself, I don't. It's hard to accommodate my entire 25 years experience in music on this album. But the most important thing is I want to reach out and communicate with everyone through this album," he said.

At the launch, Djaduk said he wanted to create a special atmosphere to ensure that the audience could understand and enjoy his new, serious composition.

He distributed eyeshades to the audience and burned incense when he presented The Waves, making the listeners feel that they were being transported to a serene, reflective atmosphere.

He said the special props were necessary because The Waves was suitable for contemplation and meditation. The album's material was similar to gamelan music, which was used to accompany the sacred dance of Bedaya. He also included the lyrics from Sinom- Kidung Bale Anyar of the ancient Serat Kidungan of Prince Notoprojo, Panembahan Mataram and Sunan Kalijaga manuscript.