Gamelan in Yogyakarta

Gamelan is a set of music instrument from Java and Bali. This instrument is designed to be played together by a group of players. The harmony created by different instrument is what make gamelan become the main instrument in Java. It is said that Gamelan was invented first time around year 300 AD and it is still played until now. This instrument has play a major role in determining the direction of the culture here in Java.

Before you get more confuse!! Java here means the main island in Indonesia not the programming language :) . You can see the famous Bali island from Ketapang Harbour, the east corner of Java island. The famous Java programming language is derive from this island's name because the program's developers really love the coffee that come from here, the Java island.

Back to the topic. The word "gamelan" comes from the Javanese word "gamel", meaning to strike or hammer, and the suffix "an", which makes the root a collective noun. This is because most of the instrument that ensemble Gamelan is played by hammering them. Of course you don't use that hammer tools that is used to hammer nails, instead there are special hammers for these instruments. The hammers are made of wood which while the instruments are made of metal, usually from brass or bronze.

The most famous instruments that ensemble Gamelan is called Gong which is also the biggest one. The Gong, normally consist of several pieces, can stretch up to 1 meter in diameter. When you hit them, you will hear a deep, low vibrating and calming Gongggggggg voice. Can you imagine it? The echo is so subtle yet full of vibration. Nothing beats a Gong voice. You've got to hear it yourself. That's why the Gong is used mainly at the end of the melody. "Let the best be the last" they said.

There are other instrument which make up the Gamelan such as Kenong, Kendang, Siter, Rebab, and others which I couldn't remember. They are played in a rithmic ensemble like the modern orchestra, except that there is no conductor here. Every player seems to be able to know when to hit what, with a correct strength. Amazing collaboration I must say!!

Gamelan is a very flexible type of music. It is normally played to a accompany a Wayang Kulit or Shadow Puppet show along with several Sindens, name for traditional javanese female singers. They can also be played to accompany a traditional dance performance or can also be played only as an instrument without any other show.

Nowadays, there are cd's and cassette for us to listen to this marveollus music so that we don't have to go far away just to enjoy it. In the western country, the Mozart effect is very famous to help the children develop their intelegence and creativity. Could it be that Gamelan is also able to increase the capacity of these children? Although maybe there is no thorough research about it yet, but observing the effect to the royal family of Javanese who listen this music frequently, I bet this a competitor to Mozart.

Wayang Kulit in Yogyakarta

Wayang Kulit or Shadow Puppet is probably the most well-known ethnic culture in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Although there is no evidence, it is belief that this show has been played since hundreds of years ago. Before the TV show become very popular nowadays, Wayang kulit was the main entertainment for the people. My Grandfather loves it very much that he knows almost any scenario for this show which can be hundreds of scenarios. Now, mainly only the elderly people love this kind of puppet, the new generations prefer the western culture which is more gleaming.

Wayang Kulit is a kind of a puppet show which is played by one main person who control the movement and the story of the puppet, he is called the Dalang. He is like the God. He is the main controller. He is assisted by a groups of traditional musician which played the Gamelan, the Javanese traditional set of music instruments. There is also the Sinden, or the singer, which usually are ladies. Then there is the assistant of the Dalang, his duties is to prepare the puppet before being used.

The show itself run for the whole night. Normally it start from 9 or 10 pm until the sun is rising. For the whole time, the Dalang has to sit still in a cross legged sitting position the whole night, even without going to the bathroom. Imagine that!!! Just to sit like that I barely stand for 2 hours, and a whole night without bathroom??? Unbelievable. Some people said that Dalang has some occult power that they can transfer their urine to the audience. And it's not only the Dalang, the Sinden, or the singers, also has to sit still for the whole night. What a strong ladies they are.

The language to play Wayang Kulit is the Javanese. There are three levels of Javanese, which are : Kromo Inggil (used to speak to older persons), Kromo Alus (used to speak to same age persons) and Boso Ngoko (used to speak to younger persons). I can used Boso Ngoko actively or passively, but I can only understand Kromo Inggil and Kromo Alus passively. We rarelly used them nowadays. The songs are also in Javanese, normally in Kromo Inggil.

The story of Wayang Kulit is full of meaning and advice to the audience while the stroyline is normally taken from Mahabharata or Ramayana epic. There can be hundreds of scenario to play and for each show, it can be for a whole night. I am still also amaze on how the Dalang can memorize so many and so long scenario in a difficult language. Of course there are some interlude in the show for the humour and also the songs but the story is still very long and there is only one man that play all of it. The Dalang is like a monolog. He has to do the conversation between various character himself, with different vocal range and vocal character to diffentiate each character. An amazing man, I must say.

Wayang kulit is normally made of animal leather, normally cow's leather. This letter is dried and then carved traditionally and carefully by a wayang carver according the each character pattern, and then painted and given a bufallo hornstick for the handle. The whole process can take up to one full month to complete for each character. This work required a detailed and artfull dedication.

Nowadays, Wayang Kulit is also broadcast by the TV's which is very good because it may sustain itself from extinction. Among more popular western shows, Wayang Kulit tries to struggle its existence in this beautiful country. If you are some how stayed in Yogyakarta, you can ask your hotel to take you to a Wayang Kulit show in Yogyakarta. For the whole night you can feel the amazing athmosphere of ethnic here in Java, Indonesia