Year 1, #9

Monday, 16 March 2002
Kerajinan Gamelan Bp. Mulyadi, Lojiwetan, Solo

Dear Klenengan Friends,

The 9th North American-sponsored klenengan took place at Bapak Mulyadi's in Lojiwetan, as usual, starting at 8:00 pm and running until 2:00 am. This klenengan fell on the 2nd day in the month of Sura in the Javanese calendar. Sura is the Javanese Lunar New Year. This is a time of "bersih desa" (spiritual cleansings of villages, often involving a wayang performance), the cleansing/rejuvenating of powerful palace artifacts/heirlooms, and various types of "ruwatan" (a ritual to guard against the bad luck resulting from certain combinations of sibling gender/number in a family -- also usually involving a wayang performance).

A few musicians were not able to attend due to bersih desa and other Sura activities (Bp-s Pahang, Sutat, Ripto, Raji, Bambang Siswanto), but the majority were there -- with the importance of the Sura month and spiritual cleansings very much on their minds. Bp. Kamso arrived with the proposal that the evening begin with a traditional Sura gendhing -- Ketawang Barikan -- done in muryararas setting (lights off, no one eats, drinks, or smokes during the gendhing, minds focused together). He further suggested ketawang Barikan be played in a suite setting -- preceded by the tembang "Pangkur Gedong Kuning" pl 5 with Kodhok Ngorek pl 5 (56 656 656 656) in the background.

The performance of this was stunningly beautiful, I have to say. Very special. Maybe the extent to which it affected me had to do with the muryararas and all that goes with that, but I'd say, make sure you get the recording of this one. (Sorry Anne.)

I'm very sorry to report that Bapak Tarno, suling, was unable to make it due to a recurring illness. He has been sick often lately -- complaining of cough and difficulty breathing. Bp. Yadi said he was doing better, but didn't want to venture out yet.

Acara Gendhing

For the Javanese month of Sura:

  1. Kodhok Ngorek pl 5 dgn. Tembang Pangkur Gedong Kuning cakepan "Singgah-Singgah" (Darsono/STSI) dados Ketw. Barikan, suwuk--tembang Pangkur Gedong Kuning lagi, tanpa iringan (Yasa/RRI).

    (Bp. Darsono emphasized to me a number of time afterwards that he took his cengkok "absolutely, 100% as closely as humanely possible" from the deceased Bp. Tarman, who performed many simple ruwatan with only the above suite -- no wayangan..."The poor man's ruwatan" in his words...It seemed very important to him to pass that information on and give credit.)

    rebab: Wahyo, gender: Kamso, kendhang: Yadi, penunthung: Wakidjo, bonang: Dalimin, gambang: Wakiyo

    (Bp. Kamso's idea)

  2. Gd. Mongkok Delik kt 4 arang mg kt 8 kalj. Ldr. Siyem, sl 6 pt Lasem

    (Bp. Wahyo's idea)

    rebab: Wahyo, kendhang: Yadi, penunthung: Wakidjo, gender: Karno, bonang: Dalimin, gambang: Wakiyo

  3. Gd. Kembang Mara kt. 2 kr. mg 4 kalj. Ldr. Playon, pl5 pt. ngelik jugag

    (Bp. Wahyo's idea)

    rebab: Wahyo, kendhang: Yadi, penunthung: Wakidjo, gender: Karno, bonang: Dalimin, gambang: Wakiyo

  4. Gd. Titipati kt 2 kr mg 4 kalj. Ldr. Peksi Kuwung dados Ayak-ayakan Anjang Mas -- palaran Gambuh -- Srepegan, sl 6

    rebab: Wahyo, kendhang gd. Yadi, kendhang sabet/ciblon: Wakidjo, gender: Kamso, bonang: Dalimin, gambang: Wakiyo

    (gendhing was Bp. Wahyo's idea and Anjang Mas was Bp. Wakidi's idea whispered to Bp. Wakidjo toward the end of Peksi Kuwung...)

  5. Gd. Sambul Cilik kt 4 mg 8 kalj Ldr. Semang, pl 6 pt nyamat jugag

    (Bp. Yadi's idea -- They were planning on playing Bp. Harjito's Manganti again, but since the evening had already moved into ciblon, decided to do it next month...)

    rebab: Yadi, gender: Karno, kendhang: Wakidjo, ciblon: Wakidi, bonang: Dalimin, gambang: Wakiyo

  6. pt. sanga wantah, Bawa Sri Martana (Darsono/STSI) dhawah Gd. Lentreng kt 4 mg 8 kalj. Ldr. Giyak-Giyak pt. sanga wantah

    (gendhing was Bp. Ngahana's idea, ldr was Bp. Dalimin's push from the peanut gallery -- Bp. Ngahana had clearly signalled for Subasiti from the rebab, but....)

    rebab:Ngahana, kendhang: Wakidjo, ciblon:Wakidi, gender: Karno, bonang: Sagimin

  7. Langgam Ngimpi

    same line-up

    sindhen: Sri Yanti

  8. pt. pl 7 jugag, Bawa Ngrenas (Panut) dhawah Gd. Pancatnyana mg Ldr. Asmaradana -- molak malik, pl 7/sl many

    same line-up as above

  9. Ayak-ayakan Pamungkas

Musicians Attending

  • Rebab: Wahyo, Yadi, Ngahana
  • Gender: Kamso, Karno
  • Kendhang: Yadi, Wakidjo, Wakidi
  • Sindhen: Mulyani, Parni, Dharmi, Tukinem, Sri Yanti Gerong: Panut, Diman, Darsono/STSI, Yasa, ?
  • Gambang: Wakiyo, Sular
  • Gender Penerus: Joko Sabar
  • Bonang: Dalimin, Sagimin
  • Bonang Penerus: Sagimin, ?
  • Suling: Mujiono
  • Siter: Joko Tipes
  • Gong: Karman
  • Kenong: Sarsidi
  • Kethuk: Kasim
  • Slenthem: Mulyono, Kamso
  • Peking: Ali
  • Balungan: Wiyono, Tulus, Ngahana, Sular, Warjinah

(there were 2 older, kind of "amateur" musicians doing gerong and bonang penerus, that Mas Wakidi knew from years and years ago, but couldn't remember their names -- didn't get a chance to ask anyone else...)

Audience

  • Susan Stengel, USA
  • Akiro, Japan,
  • Niemh, Ireland
  • Sophie, England
  • Katherine, England
  • Alice, England
  • Lukman
  • Bp. Minarna
  • Marzana, Poland
  • 2 foreigners I didn't get to meet

Budget

The rupiah has been at Rp. 9,875 this week at the banks, and we spent Rp. 3,725,000, or about $377 this month -- below our $400 monthly limit.

Report written by Kitsie Emerson