Arts

10 Nov 09

Javanese technician Mas Suraya working on the Gamelan.

The Bate Collection of Musical Instruments has played host to a team of Javanese gamelan technicians who have carried out essential works to bring the various parts of the University’s gamelan into tune with each other.

The University is the proud owner of the Gamelan Kyai Madu Laras – a Javanese gamelan orchestra, which is used for teaching and community activities. It was donated to the Faculty in 1985 by H E Sudjarwo, Minister of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia through the Embassy in London. It comprises about 55 instruments including gongs, drums, metallophones, flutes and string instruments. 

Since being donated it has seen extensive use in University teaching. It is much in demand by visiting school groups as part of the National Curriculum world music programme. Additionally it is regularly used by the Oxford Gamelan Society, a (non-University) community group, which has featured in many local activities such as the Oxford Folk Festival.

The gamelan gives the Music Faculty and the University a unique, long-term link to local schools and community groups and has proved to be a real asset in teaching about musical cooperation.

The works were undertaken by a team of Javanese gamelan experts. The technicians – Mas Suraya, from the village of Bayat and Mas Sutarno from Jatikan, spent four days working in the Music Faculty. The work consisted of tuning, regulating and repairing various of the gongs and other components. They used specialist cutting and filing equipment for the task but tuning was done entirely by ear according to traditional techniques.

Curator Andy Lamb said: 'It was important for us that the works should not remove any of the idiosyncratic playing qualities of what is a unique collection of instruments. Following the work the gamelan has now been brought back into tune with itself. As such it now can be played with a higher level of the subtle harmonisations characteristic of this type of musical tradition.'