Soloevent.id – There is one more international festival that will be held in Solo. On 9-16 August, gamelan groups from within and outside the country will perform at the 2018 International Gamelan Festival. Not only shows, this event also has various activities, such as conferences, exhibitions, publishing books about gamelan, film screenings, and others.
If you want to know more about the 2018 International Gamelan Festival, Please read this article.
Choose “Homecoming” as a theme
Homecoming can be interpreted as going home or returning. The point is that festival invites gamelan conservationists, observers, and researchers to “go home” to Solo, one of the places where gamelan develops. Gamelan is already existed in Java for thousands years. The proof can be seen in one of the reliefs of the Borobudur Temple.
Gamelan then spread throughout the archipelago even abroad. Well, through this momentum it is hoped that gamelan groups can stay in touch with each other, visit the gamelan culture, and together celebrate the beauty of the gamelan.
More than 50 gamelan groups that will appear
About 33 gamelan groups from within the country and 19 groups from abroad will show off at the 2018 International Gamelan Festival. Event fillers from within the country include Kua Etnika (Yogyakarta), Peni Candrarini (Solo), Gamelan Salukat-Dewa Alit (Bali), Ensemble Kyai Fatahillah (Bandung). Delegates from abroad included Siswa Sukra (England), Surya Kencana A (Hungary), Wesleyan Gamelan Ensemble (America), Karawitan Prasanmitr-Srinakharinwirot University (Thailand), Mike Burn (Australia).
These groups will perform in various locations, such as Vastenburg Fortress, ISI Surakarta, and cultural enclaves as well as other iconic places in Solo.
The Opening Ceremony presents the work of three composers
They are Rahayu Supanggah (Solo), Wayang Yudane (Bali), and Taufik Adam (Jakarta). The three composers will collaborate to create gamelan compositions.
At the opening ceremony of the 2018 International Gamelan Festival there were also performances from groups from villages, studios and schools in Solo Raya.
Researchers, cultural observers, academics, etc. become conference speaker
Gamelan can be an interesting discussion in the discussion. This conference will raise the theme “Gamelan Culture: Roots, Expression, and Worldview”. The theme was revealed into several topics, such as History and Gamelan Imagination; Industrialization, Economic Globalization and Gamelan; Gamelan and the Distribution of Major Religions; and others.
Publish books about gamelan
Several books that will be published discuss the thoughts of gamelan maestros, notation of ancient gendis, and research on gamelan.
The titles planned to be released included Understanding Puppets and Gamelan: Javanese, Islamic and Global Cross Gathering; The Maestro Gamelan; Archeology of Gamelan.
Screening
Concepting mini cinema, the film titles will be screened at Platinum Cineplex Hartono Mall Solo Baru and Omah Sinten, namely the Birth of Gatotkaca (Djaduk Djayakusuma), Moon Stabbed Ilalang (Garin Nugroho), Cemeng 2005 (Riantiarno), Fairy Tales from Dirah (Sardono W Kusumo).
The films will also be discussed with the speakers Djaduk Feriyanto and Toersi A.
“Gamelan Civilization” Exhibition
Collection of gamelan such as recording albums, special gamelan instruments, costumes, etc. belonging to the National Gallery, Borobudur Conservation Center, Yogyakarta Cultural Preservation Center, and the National Museum will be publicly displayed.
This exhibition will take place at the Central Java Cultural Park Gallery.
(All photos are taken from the 2018 International Gamelan Festival Facebook)
