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Panji Kelana

Panji Kelana, an eight piece percussion and dance ensemble from Sidoarjo, East Java, visited Sydney briefly to perform at the Indonesia Festival, Darling Harbour on Sunday 28 March, sponsored by the Indonesian Ministry for Culture and Tourism. They also gave two workshops organised by Wot Cross-cultural Synergy. Sydney-based percussionist Ron Reeves reviews their workshop.

Panji Kelana gave a workshop on the East Java style rebana (frame drum) playing. This rebana style is very dynamic, involving four different rhythms being played simultaneously by four performers or groups of performers. While the individual rhythms are relatively simple, the combinations achieved are often very complex and played at blinding fast speeds.

It is no simple matter to accurately play the four rhythms simultaneously - it's easy to get thrown by the sounds you're hearing from other players. To make things even harder, starting and stopping accurately involves listening to specific drum cues, then adjusting the first or last notes of your pattern to fit the group rhythm. Different parts start and stop at slightly different times, but if done accurately the overall effect is of one complex rhythm starting and stopping on cue.

Workshop participants were taken step by step through four different rhythms and given instruction and practice at stopping and starting each one. The group was then divided into four, each playing one rhythm, and the four rhythms were rotated through the groups so that by the end everyone had had a go at all four rhythms. Starting slowly at first, the group eventually built up to a pretty fair speed and managed to start and stop as one.

Members of Panji Kelana played rebana and additional drums that are normally used as accompanying instruments in this style, rounding out the overall sound for a very authentic rhythm experience. This was further enhanced at the end by getting the workshoppers up on their feet walking around while playing (common in this style of drumming), adding extra dynamic and energy to the final performance, and giving everyone a chance to hear really clearly how the parts sounded all together.

By this stage workshoppers and members of Panji Kelana were having such a great time that the workshop could've gone on quite a bit longer. Unfortunately we ran out of time at this point, leaving everyone on a high with the thrill of nailing that beautiful rhythm so nicely, and eager for the next workshop opportunity.

For more information on Indonesian percussion, please email Ron Reeves <ronrif@yahoo.com> or Wot Cross-cultural Synergy <wot@iprimus.com.au> or visit the GengGong website <http://home.iprimus.com.au/wot>