Did you know that the University of New England is home to an impressive Central Javanese Slendro gamelan ensemble?
After spending years in storage, the spirit of these heavenly-sounding instruments was revived through a series of workshops, which culminated in a spectacular evening concert on 8 August at The Wright Centre. Straight from his sold-out concert at the National Gallery of Australia, renowned wayang kulit (shadow puppet) master, Dr. Joko Susilo took a detour on his world tour to deliver a week of intensive gamelan instruction to enthusiastic members of the university and Armidale community.
The response to the workshops was overwhelming. Arranged within a week, staff, students, and members of the local community flocked to The Wright Centre to gain a taste of this enchanting music. The workshops highlighted the diversity of the community, but also the power of gamelan to unite. Participants quickly discovered that gamelan was about more than simply playing music. It is designed to be played as a group, in which each family of instruments plays a unique part, yet never dominates. Instead, when played together, the sound produced interweaves to create a magical, shimmering sound. Tuned to a pentatonic scale, harmonies are created easily, as long as members of the ensemble listen to one another and play their part correctly.
“By playing together, and listening to one another with respect, we can create beautiful music,” explains Joko Susilo.
For Indonesian students at UNE, it was a chance to both reengage with and showcase their culture in Australia.
“Although I was far from Indonesia, playing the gamelan made me feel as if I had travelled back home,” says Danti Asianti, PhD candidate from the School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. “Also, while playing alongside many local Australians, I also felt an overwhelming surge of pride as an Indonesian, sharing my culture and seeing it valued abroad,” she adds.
For the final concert, workshop participants accompanied Joko Susilo as he performed an excerpt of the Ancient Hindu Epic, the Ramayana through wayang kulit. Audience members were enthralled by the elegant shadows of the intricately-carved flat leather puppets, as well as Joko’s skills in moving them swiftly across the screen. The battle scenes, a surprise appearance by a kangaroo, and the humorous dialogues were especially well-received. At the end of the performance, audience members were invited to get up close and personal with the instruments and puppets, where workshop participants gladly shared their newfound knowledge of gamelan.
Jane Ahlstrand, Lecturer in Indonesian at UNE and event organiser sincerely hopes that the use of the gamelan and wayang kulit collection can continue at UNE. “I hope to see the gamelan claim its rightful place, at the heart of cultural life at the university, and the Armidale community. Gamelan should not be seen as simply a musical instrument, but as a natural vehicle for engagement, learning, and team-building that transcends cultures.”
Watch the full performance here.
Written by Ms Jane Ahlstrand, lecturer in Indonesian.