by Jo Hilder | Dec 5, 2015 | 2015
Saturday 5 December 2015, 7:30pm Adam Concert Room, Te Kōkī NZ School of Music A troupe of four young dancers from Swargaloka dance studio in Jakarta put on a stunning show accompanied by Gamelan Wellington ensembles. Read a review of this show. The programme included dances in the classic Javanese and Balinese traditions, Beksan Enggar-Enggar and Tari Margapati, as well as a more recent work of mixed Sundanese and Balinese styles, Bajidor Kahot. The dancers also performed their own choreography to two Javanese pieces, Sesaji and Nusantara Indah. Click on the images below to enlarge. Chikal Mutiara Diar performs Sesaji Yani Walandari in Beksan Enggar-Enggar. Bathara Saverigadi Dewandoro and Yani Wulandari in Beksan Enggar-Enggar Yani Wulandari performs Bajidor Kahot Bathara Saverigadi Dewandoro and Yani Wulandari in Bajidor Kahot Tri Kadar Nugroho in Bajidor Kahot Chikal Mutiara Diar performs Tari Margapati Chikal Mutiara Diar and Denta Sepdwiansyah Pinandito in Tari Margapati All photos © Jasper Rain. Review By Jennifer Shennan, Michelle Potter on Dancing, 7 December 2015 Prabhu Sri Bathara Kresna, a character in Indonesian wayang kulit shadow puppet theatre, can wield weapons of supernatural power. One of these,wijaya kusuma, is a flower so beautiful (would that be a lotus, a water lily, or passionfruit flower?), it is said to bring back the dead from their graves. The director of Gamelan Padhang Moncar, Budi Putra, must have borrowed such a flower for the evening’s performance since Jack Body, loved musician, composer, colleague, mentor and friend, who endeavoured for such a long time to bring this troupe of dancers from Jakarta to New Zealand, died earlier this year so did not live to see their performance. But every member of the...
by Jo Hilder | Oct 3, 2015 | 2015
3 October 2015 Wellington South Baptist Church, 284 The Parade, Island Bay Joko Susilo presented the story of The Fall of Alengka from the Ramayana through wayang kulit (traditional Javanese shadow puppetry), accompanied by Gamelan Padhang Moncar as part of the Out of the Suitcase Puppet Festival in Island Bay. Click on the photos to see larger images. Wayang Kulit (Photo: Kelly Kellective) Photos: Kelly Kellective Review By Ann Hunt, Dominion Post, 6 October 2015 The Fall of Alengka is a story from the great Indian epic, The Ramayana. Its creator, Joko Susilo, is an eighth-generation Indonesian shadow puppeteer, now resident in Dunedin. An integral part of the performance is the musical accompaniment by the mesmerising Gamelan Padhang Moncar. Particular mention must go to the beautiful singing of Briar Prastiti and the stirring drumming of Rupert Snook. The Gamelan adds brilliant drama and colour to the production. The beautifully made, intricate puppets demonstrate high energy and refinement, an extraordinarily wide range of emotions and movement. Great skill and dexterity, immense discipline and total concentration is required of the puppeteer. Susilonot only manipulates the puppets, but also narrates the action, sings and does some sound effects as well. His mastery is complete. The story is one of good triumphing over evil. It tells how Prince Rama battled the terrible Rawhina who had abducted his wife Princess Sinta, and of their many ordeals before they were eventually reunited. The middle traditional comic section features clowns who trade slapstick business and references to John Key and the All Blacks. The spellbound audience gave Susilo and the Gamelan a joyous standing...
by Jo Hilder | Aug 22, 2015 | 2015
Saturday 22 - Sunday 23 August, 2015 Allen Hall Theatre, University of Otago, Dunedin Dunedin celebrated 20 years of having its own Javanese gamelan with a weekend festival featuring talks, performances and workshops, masterminded by Pak Joko Susilo, director of Puspawarna Gamelan and dhalang extraordinaire. Members of Gamelan Padhang Moncar contributed with talks by Gareth Farr, Megan Collins who delivered the Keynote Address and Briar Prastiti. Other regions of New Zealand and Australia were also represented. Click on the photos below to see a larger image. Joko Susilo, dhalang Ade Suharto in a contemporary piece composed by David Kotlowy Wayang kulit Megan Collins, keynote speaker, played rabab pasisia Niken Waloejo conducted a dance workshop Ade Suharto and Niken Waloejo Programme: Saturday 22 August Seminars – Black/Sale House (Music Department, University of Otago) 10am - Official welcome 10:30am - coffee break 11am - Keynote speech: Dr Megan Collins (manager of Gamelan Padhang Moncar) 12 noon - Lunch 1pm - Gamelan in Australasia: Henry Johnson (University of Otago); Ilona Wright (University of Melbourne) 2pm - Gamelan Composition: Gareth Farr (Wellington); Anthony Ritchie (Otago) 3pm - Afternoon tea 3:30pm - The World of Gamelan: Miranda Adams (Auckland); David Kotlowy (Adelaide) Concert ($15 adult/kids free) - Allen Hall Theatre 7pm - featuring Javanese dance, compositions for gamelan and music from Gamelan Padhang Moncar Sunday 23 August Workshops - Allen Hall Theatre 1pm - Gamelan Composition Workshop: Briar Prastiti, Gareth Farr, 2pm - Dance workshop (Merak) with Niken Waloejo Concert ($15 adult/kids free) - Allen Hall Theatre 5pm - featuring dance, music from Gamelan Puspawarna with guest artists, and a short wayang kulit show (shadow puppets): “Babat...
by Jo Hilder | Jul 26, 2015 | 2015
Sunday 26 July 2015 10am @ The Beehive (NZ Parliament), 1 Molesworth St, Thorndon Jason explains rebab to an audience member Carina and Stephanie (centre) Tristan on violin The Indonesian Chorus Manager Megan Collins honours the late Jack Body Violin and rabab Pasisia Photos: Victoria University of Wellington Image Services (Colin McDiarmid) To celebrate the 150th Birthday of Wellington becoming the capital of New Zealand, more than 30 national institutions opened their doors free of charge, revealing some of the rarest and most significant collections and important treasures housed in this city. The New Zealand School of Music Open Day (held at the Beehive) opened with a free performance from Gamelan Padhang Moncar at 10am, followed by aspiring jazz vocalists at 12 noon and classical voice students at 2pm. Programme: Asmaramurka A contemporary gamelan composition by Nanang Karbito, a young gamelan composer and lecturer at Gadjah Mada University of Yogyakarta, this piece expresses feelings of anger through its very fast tempo. Lagu Dolanan (Folk Songs) - featuring The Indonesian Chorus Suwe Ora Jamu, written by RC Hardjosubroto, is very popular, especially when sung by Waljinah, a prominent Indonesian singer of the keroncong style. Swara Suling, (“Sound of the Flute”) Prahu Layar, (‘Sailing Boat’), tells of a cheerful relaxing Sunday picnic on a boat and beach, and evokes the waves of the sea. These last two pieces were composed in the late 1970s by Ki Narto Sabdo, a prominent Javanese gamelan expert and a famous dhalang (puppeteer). They remain popular to this day. Nusantara Indah “Nusantara Indah” (the beauty of Islands) was composed by Dedek Wahyudi, a prominent gamelan composer and gamelan expert. This is...
by Jo Hilder | Jun 27, 2015 | 2015
All-Day Multicultural Event Saturday 27th June 2015, 10am-4pm St Patrick’s College Hall, Kilbirnie Gamelan Padhang Moncar have in the past held some very special music events at the church of St Mary of the Angels, involving their wonderful choir (Vita Brevis and Darkness to Light). The church held this event to raise funds for the seismic strengthening of their historic building which is currently a busy building site rather than a place of worship. Gamelan Padhang Moncar was very happy to perform at this festival which featured a wide range of performances from many cultural groups (including Korean, Tongan, Irish, Filipino) as well food stalls. Radio New Zealand National Programme announcers, Cynthia Morahan and Eru Rerekura were the MC’s. Gamelan Padhang Moncar -...
by Jo Hilder | Jun 5, 2015 | 2015
Javanese and Balinese gamelan music recital Friday 5 June 2015, 7pm Adam Concert Room, NZ School of Music, Victoria University Students from PERF 250 performed as part of their assessment for this semester’s NZSM course in Javanese gamelan performance, taught by Budi S. Putra. Also appearing were Gamelan Padhang Moncar with an Indonesian choir performing lagu dolanan (Prau Layar and Swara Suling), and Gamelan Taniwha Jaya presenting two Balinese pieces: a traditional temple piece (Tabu Telu Buaya Mangap) and music usually used to accompany dance (Tari Gopala). In a special guest appearance, Dr Joko Susilo performed a brief wayang kulit (shadow puppetry), assisted by Megan Collins and accompanied by Gamelan Padhang Moncar. Very short Wayang by Joko Susilo (& Megan Collins) GPM with Indonesian Chorus Gamelan Taniwha Jaya Students of PERF 250...
by Jo Hilder | May 29, 2015 | 2015
29 May 2015 Eyegum Secret House Party Round 23: Graeme Jefferies/Cakekitchen ($10) Innermost Gardens, Mt Victoria, Wellington (click on Facebook event link to see map) A small group of musicians from Gamelan Padhang Moncar performed their inspired take on the traditional Javanese musical style at 9pm. The main bill was Graeme Jefferies who has been described by NZMusician magazine as being “one of New Zealand’s most successful ex-pat rock musicians” filling venues in Chicago and Moscow, yet relatively unknown in his home country of New Zealand. At the core of seminal Flying Nun Records bands Nocturnal Projections,This Kind of Punishment and The Cakekitchen, Graeme’s work has spanned the last 40 years. Microsoft Voices are incredibly difficult to pigeon hole, containing members of Orchestra of Spheres, The All Seeing Hand and a host of other killer outfits. This crew are the real deal. Graeme Jefferies/The Cakekitchen 11:00 Microsoft Voices 10:00 Gamelan Padhang Moncar...
by Jo Hilder | May 24, 2015 | 2015
Sunday 24 May, 2pm St Andrews on the Terrace A celebration of the life of Jack Body, long-time gamelan manager and worker of wonders, was held at St Andrews on the Terrace, Wellington. Gamelan Padhang Moncar were honoured to perform traditional Javanese music at the beginning and end of the concert. Our director, Budi S. Putra, performed macapat (traditional Javanese vocal form). The concert featured chamber works by Jack performed by the NZ String Quartet, Anna Pierard, Linden Loader, Martin Riseley, Mere Boynton, Jian Liu, and Baroque Voices, chosen by Jack himself. There were also several moving eulogies. A recording of this concert was broadcast on Concert FM on Sound Lounge. Link to more recordings of Jack Body on RNZ...
by Jo Hilder | May 7, 2015 | 2015
Thursday 7 May We were delighted to play welcoming music for the Wellington Launch of “Jack! Celebrating Jack Body, composer”, edited by Jennifer Shennan, Gillian Whitehead & Scilla Askew. See video of the event here. Jack was fundamental in the development of gamelan in New Zealand, acting as manager for the Gamelan Padhang Moncar for many years, introducing many composition students to gamelan music and fostering the composition of new works for gamelan. This beautiful volume celebrates his 70th birthday and unswerving commitment to New Zealand music by bringing together an astounding collection of memories, photos, paintings, art and music from around 120 friends, colleagues, students and family. …this book gives us many … instances of the essence of Body’s particular no-holds-barred brand of creativity….the sheer range and depth of his activities here presented is nothing short of revelatory – as fellow-composer Helen Bowater said about meeting him for the first time, it’s like “being struck by lightning – never the same again!”. Peter Mechen Middle C - read full review The contributors reflect Jack’s far-reaching connections throughout the world and particularly in Asia. They include: Geoff Chapple, Tan Dun, Gareth Farr, Gao Ping, David Harrington (Kronos Quartet), Margaret Nielsen, Richard Nunns, Roland Peelman (The Song Company), John Psathas, Budi Putra, Frederic Rzewski, Chinary Ung, Peter Walls and Ian Wedde. There are musical tributes from: Dame Gillian Whitehead, John Elmsly, Frederic Rzewski, Yuji Takahashi, José Evangelista, Somei Satoh, Dieter Mack and Ross Harris. Contributors on Jack and gamelan are: Marie Direen, Gareth Farr, Joko Susilo, Budi Putra, Pippa Strom, Yudane, Megan Collins, Juliet Palmer, Judith Exley, Jo Hilder. Other gamelan players and Indonesian...
by Gamelan Admin | Mar 14, 2015 | 2015
Saturday 14 March, 7:30pm GAMELAN PADHANG MONCAR with JOKO SUSILO (dhalang) presented Wayang Kulit (shadow theatre) at the SE Asian Night Market on the Wellington Waterfront (near Te Papa). Joko presented The Battle for Pringgandani, an episode from the Indian epic the Mahabharata. The event was supported by a grant from the Asia:NZ Foundation and the Embassy of the Republic of...
by Gamelan Admin | Mar 13, 2015 | 2015
Friday 13 March, 6:15pm Gamelan Taniwha Jaya performed with Sekaa Selonding Semeton and dancers from Bali at the SE Asian Night Market on the Wellington Waterfront (near Te Papa). Selonding is an ancient Balinese ensemble never before performed in New Zealand. Vaughan and Evie Hatch (a Kiwi-Balinese couple) brought a newly constructed replica set of instruments to Wellington with their family-based group of performers, including their 8-year old son who plays, composes and dances. ...
by Gamelan Admin | Mar 8, 2015 | 2015
Sunday 8 March, 11:15am Summer City Mainstreet Stage, Riddiford St GAMELAN TANIWHA JAYA performed at the Newtown Festival. They presented traditional temple music (Tabu Telu Buaya Mangap), 20th century compositions by renowned Balinese composer I Wayan Lotring (Sekar Gendot and Kompyang), and music for dance (Gopala and Margapati)....
