A Concert of Central Javanese Music, Dance and
Shadow Puppets
The Melbourne Community Gamelan
Poedijono, musical director
8pm on 27 November 1999, at Footscray Community Arts Centre
Gamelan music is among the most well known of the hundreds of traditional performing art forms found among the cultures that make up Indonesia. The term gamelan refers to the entire set of instruments as well as to the music played on them or the group who plays them. The most popular form of gamelan in Central Java today is that associated with the refined cultural traditions of the royal courts. Part of the blending of traditions that is the hallmark of modern Javanese culture, gamelan music can be heard at Islamic events such as the celebration of the Prophet Mohammad’s birthday, in the all night wayang kulit shadow theatre which recounts episodes form epic Hindu legends, and as accompaniment to a variety of classical and popular dance forms. Gamelan is important in both formal ceremonies and popular entertainment and performances of gamelan are an integral part of many auspicious occasions.
This dance is a portrayal of feminine characteristics. Some of the movements are stylisations of everyday actions while others are more abstract. Originally a dance performed in villages it was adopted and refined by the royal Javanese courts. Dancer: Maria
Shadow puppets are found in a wide variety of cultures in various parts of Asia. Javanese Wayang Kulit is an ancient art form that blends elements of traditional Javanese mysticism, Hindu stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, and elements of Islamic traditions with humour, philosophy and comment on contemporary affairs.
Traditional performances last an entire night. This performance will present an excerpt from a story in which Arjuna meets with his clown-servants, and does battle with a demon. Puppeteer: Poedijono.
The members of the Melbourne Community Gamelan come from diverse backgrounds but have been brought together by their love of gamelan and have been studying and performing for a number of years under the direction of Poedijono. We would like to express our thanks to the University of Melbourne Faculty of Music for their support of Indonesian performing arts in Australia, and to the Indonesian Consulate for allowing us to perform on the beautiful set of instruments used today.
Melbourne Community Gamelan's most recent performances have been benefit concerts for those suffering from the economic depression in Indonesia, and the crisis in East Timor.
E-mail: melgamelan@hotmail.com