Gamelan

Gamelan Taniwha Jaya is a group of New Zealand musicians dedicated to the study and performance of Balinese music. They specialise in contemporary music for Gamelan Gong Kebyar, and frequently incorporate western instruments into the ensemble. They perform on a set of instruments made by Pak Rantes in Denpasar, Bali, which was bought by Gareth Farr in 2003. 

The name combines a NZ Māori word (Taniwha – a mythical water monster) with a Balinese word (Jaya – glorious or victorious) to symbolise the mix of New Zealand and Balinese cultures.

The gamelan is the traditional percussion orchestra of Indonesia, and Bali’s Gong Kebyar style is characterised by unpredictable rhythms and wild dynamic contrasts. Entirely comprised of bronze metallophones and gongs, it has a vibrant and complex sound, and the music shimmers and pulses with a broad range of sound from tiny high tinkling metallophones all the way down to massive booming gongs.

Gamelan Taniwha Jaya was launched in August 2003, and since then has been involved in many projects and performances – including a collaboration with one of NZ’s most popular acts, Minuit, at WOMAD 2012.

In July 2013, the group toured Indonesia, performing music for gamelan by NZ composers in several cities – including the Jogjakarta Gamelan Festival in Java, and in Ubud, Bali.

The ensemble is based at the New Zealand School of Music, Kelburn campus in Wellington – if you are interested in joining the group, please email Gareth – details on the contact page.

See the official website of gamelan in Wellington, NZ -  http://www.gamelan.org.nz

The Seven Ages of Man

from All's Well That Ends Well by William Shakespeare (Act II, Scene vii)
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.

At first, the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.

Then the whining school boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school.

And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow.

Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth.

And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part.
The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,

With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound.

Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

Nusantara Grand Cultural Parade 2014

18 Aug 2014 Start At: 07:00 Until: 15:00

In conjunction with Indonesia's 69^th Independence Day,  which falls on 17^th August the Nusantara Art and Cultural Parade 2014, one of the grandest processions in Indonesia will be shown on 18^th August 2014.  

Presenting the rich diversity of Indonesia's art and cultural performanced from all offer the  Archipelago,  the Nusantara Art and Cultural Parade displays the rich diversity in  the arts and cultural performances  of the islands that will be  centered at the country's national icon:  the  National Monument (Monas) located in the heart of Jakarta.

This outstanding parade is initiated and organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy in collaboration with the City of Jakarta

Nusantara Art and Cultural Parade 201 represents and epitomizes the arts and cultural wealth and diversity of Indonesia. The event is a creative endeavor by the county’s finest artists, artisans and cultural personalities to  illustrate Indonesia's   cultural diversity involving all the provinces of the country. This is the best opportunity to observe some of Indonesia’s most fascinating art and cultural wonders.

The parade will commence at the National Monument (Monas) before marching into the Istana Merdeka (Merdeka Palace) where each troupe will perform for 2.5 minutes at  the honorary stage. From there, the parade will continue to the Sapta Pesona Building (The Office of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy) in front of the Arjuna Wijaya Statue at Merdeka Barat, and turn left to Medan Merdeka Selatan, where the parade will pass Jakarta's City Hall, to finally return to the Monas Square.

The event will involve delegates from all 34 provinces of Indonesia with an addition of 5 State Owned Enterprises. No fewer than 4,000 artists from all over the archipelago are estimated involved in this one of a kind parade. The parade will be highlighted by creatively designed traditional costumes, traditional art performances, a variety of traditional musical ensembles, and beautifully decorated floats. There will also be delegates from Jakarta’s Tourism Police who will ride decorated bicycles, hundreds of the unique Reog Ponorogo dancers from East Java, and a special marching band colorfully dressed  from the Jember Fashion Carnival (JFC).

Participants for the parade have been carefully selected based on their skill and competence in their local art and culture. Each contingent may consist of 50 to 100 persons,  accompanied by art directors, choreographers, composers, makeup artists, costume designers, production designers, and more.

The Nusantara Art and Cultural Parade 2014 is intended to boost the creativity of Indonesia's  Performing Art  wrapped in the form of a Carnival. Moreover, the event is expected to raise the appreciation of the Indonesian people for their own country’s authentic arts and culture. Furthermore, it is expected to create a wave of creativity  throughout the archipelago and establish itself as an icon of indonesia's  Creative Economy which can simultaneously acts as a major tourist attraction to Indonesia.

For more information, you can contact:

Secretary of Performing Arts and Music Industry Development
Directorate General of Art and Culture-based Creative Economy
The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy
Gedung Film 5th Floor
MT. Haryono Kav. 47-48
South Jakarta, 12770
Phone/Fax. +62 21 79170572
Lina Verawati: 085890232192
Arlin Citra: 085776352100
Email: senipertunjukanpspim@gmail.com

Reinventing the Sacred Highland

The Indonesian Archipelago forms an important part in the history of human civilization in Asia. A number of scientists even speculate that it is here where civilization of modern man  began. Traces of these ancient human civilizations are embedded in the megalithic culture of Tana Toraja inSouth Sulawesi Province and will be unveiled to the world at the Toraja International Festival 2014,  scheduled to take place from 11^th to 13^th August 2014, at the ancient villlage of Ke'te Kesu, Sanggalangi district, Tana Toraja Regency.

Carrying the theme “Reinventing the Sacred Highland”, the festival intends to re-discover the sacred beauty of the “Land of the Heavenly Kings” and celebrate the extraordinary megalithic culture of Tana Toraja.  

The festival will commence with a colossal performance of Opera Toraja. The opera will involve musicians, dancers, acrobats, actors, and other artists from Indonesia and from abroad. The festival will continue with musical performances featuring Tana Toraja’s own musicians as well as  national and international performers. The festival will  be highlighted with an exhibition of Toraja’s variety of authentic hand-woven fabrics. There will also be a coffee corner where people can enjoy the world- renowned Toraja Coffee, and a seminar  held on the role of youth in local culture and tourism development.

This year the festival  has invited distinguished guests from England, the United States of America, Zimbabwe, and Korea.

"Discovered" and opened to the world from their long isolation only since the beginning of the last century,  Toraja ethnic group today still adheres to their age-old beliefs, rituals and traditions, although many of her people are modernized or have embraced Christianity. Toraja is most well known for its elaborate funeral ceremonies that can take days and involve entire villages. These are not only moments for mourning but are moreover events to renew family ties and to ensure continued unity among villages and communities.

To reach Toraja you must  first fly to Makassar, capital of South Sulawesi Province. There are multiple daily flights to Makassar from Jakarta, Bali and other parts of Indonesia. Garuda Indonesia also flies to Makassar from Singapore.  Then you must drive by car or bus to  Toraja, The journey takes over 8 hours. If you plan to attend this unique Festival it is best to book your hotel well in advance.

Toraja International Festival Video