Nusantara Orchestra, Gregah Nusa: Echoing a Cultural Renaissance
High volatility is likely to continue until the end of May.
The Yogyakarta Royal Palace is bringing the Yogyakarta Royal Orchestra (YRO) concert to Jakarta as a call for cultural revival during National Awakening Day. The title ‘Gregah Nusa’ was chosen as a symbol inviting the collective consciousness of the nation to awaken through music.
This concert will be held on Saturday, May 16th, at the Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) Grand Theater in Central Jakarta, starting at 5:00 PM. The Yogyakarta Royal Orchestra will showcase the musical diversity of the archipelago within a modern orchestral setting and traditional instruments.
The Chairman of the Committee, GKR Bendara, explained that ‘Gregah Nusa’ is more than just an artistic theme. The term represents the spirit of awakening, moving forward, and preserving to reaffirm national identity.
“‘Gregah’ in Javanese means to awaken, and ‘Nusa’ refers to the homeland, so this concert is a call to action to raise collective awareness among the public about national identity,” said GKR Bendara.
He emphasized that this concert serves as a medium for preserving culture in a way that is relevant to modern contexts.
Music was chosen as a universal language to evoke a sense of ownership towards Indonesia’s diversity. “Through music, we want to spark the spirit of recovery and progress for the nation amidst global challenges,” he said.
GKR Bendara also explained the reason for choosing Jakarta as the location for the YRO concert. According to him, the capital city is a strategic space to reach a wider and more diverse audience.
“Jakarta is a meeting point for various backgrounds, so Javanese cultural values can be accessed more inclusively by the national community,” he said. He emphasized that this does not mean abandoning Yogyakarta as the root of the culture.
Instead, the Palace wants to bring these noble values to a larger stage. “This is a form of active contribution from the Palace in weaving together national diversity,” he said. In the performance concept, YRO combines Western orchestras with traditional Indonesian instruments.
The approach used is not just about adding elements, but rather harmonizing different musical systems. “This combination involves converting tuning between diatonic and pentatonic instruments, creating a complete harmony,” he said.
He added that this concept opens up new spaces for exploration in traditional music. This also increases public appreciation for local musical instruments on a large-scale performance.
“This proves that musical boundaries can be broken down and create a unique Indonesian identity,” he said. GKR Bendara believes that the Yogyakarta Royal Orchestra also plays a role as a cultural diplomacy agent.
This orchestra not only preserves but also introduces Javanese culture to the global stage. “YRO is a modern face of Yogyakarta’s traditions that can be accepted by the international public through an orchestral format,” he said.
Meanwhile, the concert Project Manager, Bagus Pradipta, mentioned that the title ‘Gregah Nusa’ is a metaphor for the awakening of Indonesian nationalism. He connects this spirit with the historical momentum of the founding of Boedi Oetomo.
“Gregah Nusa means the nation rising from adversity, which became a symbol of the beginning of the modern movement against colonialism,” he said.
The Palace hopes that this concert will have a real impact, especially for young people. Not only to learn about culture but also to foster pride and encourage its preservation.