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Surat Surat
Suara Indonesia Radio Show
The past six month has seen quite a few changes for Suara Indonesia. I've had the benefit of working with a hard working and creative team who have contributed in a variety of ways. Jeni Gonzalez has been producing a weekly round-up of current issues and events in. Indonesia to keep our listeners up to date and informed. Tom Mullins and Sarito Johnston have contributed through their cultural research. Tom has also provided several on-air reviews of our music. Daniel Summerfield has provided the show with promotional material through his graphic design work. As always Judy has been working hard behind the scenes to keep the show running and has also been helping out with presenting the shows. The mini disc recorder, purchased with the funding of the Community Broadcasting Foundation's Ethnic Radio Grant has become a fundamental part of the production process allowing us to pre-record interviews and other material thus contributing to making the show a quality live-to-air production.
I'd also like to thank Lia Ramirez for the energy she gave to the show throughout her involvement. We had a great time presenting the show together.
I am currently on the lookout for a regular co- presenter. The main requirements are an appreciation of Indonesian Music and Culture as well as an interest in the Radio Medium. Confidence and experience is something which will be achieved through involvement but is not a pre-requirement.
Any interest please contact Jo Williams 0408191523
or email:suaraindonesia@capebyron.com
Member - AIAA
Evergreen's 2002 Tour
Evergreen Club contemporary gamelan is planning a tour for Late April - June 2002, taking us to Japan, Singapore, Java and hopefully, Australia.
Evergreen Club is an 8-member gamelan Degung performing group composed of leading musicians based in Toronto, Canada. Founded in 1983, we have specialised in commissioning and performing a large, 200+ piece repertory of contemporary compositions from leading American and Canadian composers such as John Cage, James Tenney & Lou Harrison, as well as degung klasik & popular Sundanese songs in our own arrangements.
Evergreen Club started life 18 years ago as Canada's first gamelan. As it is run as a professional ensemble, it is one of only a few permanent professional gamelans in the world, establishing [gamelan] Degung as a recognised voice in new Canadian and international music. We have represented Canada at recent World Expos in Lisbon [1999] and Hanover [2000], as well as mounting tours to Japan, Europe and throughout Canada. Composed of some of Canada's leading drumers and percussionists, Evergreen has been a featured act with World Drums and Heartbeat mega-groups, composed of more than 30 drummers from around the world.
We have compositions in our repertoire combining and extending our gamelan with [silent] film, dance, new music ensembles and symphony orchestra. We have also featured many concerts with leading guest musical soloists on harp, mrdangam, marimba, English horn, steel pan, guitars, kora, prepared piano, live computer, et al. Evergreen Club has released 3 CDs and an Lp and is featured on several other compilation CDs.
We invite the interest of presenters and producers who would be in a position to present us in Australia during the time frame of late April - early June 2002. Since it is an expensive proposition to tour with even a small gamelan, probably the larger presenters, producers or orchestras would make most sense.
Andrew Timar Evergreen Club Toronto, Canada email atimar@interlog.com
The Artist Budiartha
Hello,I have five prints which can be seen at http://www.geocities.com/rondupas/Budiartha/Budiartha.htm
I think the artist may have been Indonesian. Do you know anything about this artist?
Ron Dupas
Email: golden_years@juna.com
RON and MARTHA DUPAS Gresham, Oregon USA
Loss of Knowledge
Hi, I have a good friend in Bali named Wayan Kaler Aryasa. He is a curator at the Bali Arts Center, the government center for art in Denpasar. He is concerned about the loss of knowledge due to the passing of older teachers in the oral tradition of Balinese music instruction. Already some of Wayan's most knowledgeable teachers of his youth have passed on with no documentation of their vast knowledge other than their student's memories.
If someone ... has the resources or the knowledge of where they can be found, maybe something can be done.
With Wayan Kaler's very limited resources he has been able to purchase a handycam and has been documenting these people on his own to try to capture the precious resources that will soon be lost with their passing. I'm sure someone in the academic community could find a life's work in this endeavor.
Please get in touch with me if you can help or if you know someone who can. This would be a great project for an ethnomusicology grad and a film student. Write a grant and get some work done that will truly effect our knowledge of this wonderful art form!
Shashanka Pierre Menard
Shashanka@earthlink.net
Available from the American Gamelan Institute
Wayang CDROM from Indonesia:
A new CD-rom of the wayang "Dewa Ruci" performed by Ki Manteb Sudarsono is on its way from Indonesia and will arrive in April. The performance is in Javanese, with English subtitles. The price will be $45. Please let us know if you are interested, as supplies will be limited. Joko Susilo, an eighth generation dhalang (shadow puppet master), is highly skilled at _sabetan_ (puppet manipulation), has a wonderful voice, and gives new clarity and spirit to the characters of this enduring Hindu tale. He has been in residence at Dartmouth for the winter term through the support of the Music Department, and the Dickey and Bildner Endowments. An article about his visit is at http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/feb01/susilo.html
New Videos
Balinese shadowplay on a cinematic scale! Four new tapes of the innovative and excellent work of Larry Reed and Shadowlight Productions.
- Mayadanawa: The story of a horrible beast with long quivering fingers who demands to be worshipped by the Balinese people until the god Indra comes down in his chariot to battle the demon and restore peace. 26 min. V.Ree02. $25.
- Sidha Karya: The story of an arrogant king brought down by a beggar. The shadow sets were designed and chiseled with puppet-making tools by Dewa Putu Berata; the shadow masks were made by I Made Sidia. 26 min. V.Ree03. $25.
- Wayang Bali (excerpts): In a plot drawn from the Mahabharata myth cycle, Reed and his musicians make it possible for non-Balinesi audiences to enjoy the drama and humor of this classical form of storytelling. 4 min. V.Ree04. $15.
- Segments from Shadowlight's major productions to date providing an overview of Larry Reed's innovations in shadow theater. Includes Wayang Bali, Sidha Karya and In Xanadu, plus highlights of two productions never released on video. 10 min. V.Ree05. $15 And a new price on Shadow Master: $50.
Phone/fax: 603 448 8837
Visit our website: http://www.gamelan.org
Listen to gamelan and other Indonesian musics: http://www.gongcast.net
Lontar books, art reproductions, and cards: http:www.lontar.org