Exploration Is The Key To Maintaining The Sustainability Of Traditional Music

Gamelan Bali as one of the traditional Indonesian music (Instagram @gamelan_yuganada)

JAKARTA - I Wayan Sudiana, composer and gamelan maker from Bali, argues that exploration of traditional music is the key to the sustainability of traditional music itself.

This view was obtained by Sudirana after observing the development of Balinese karwitan. He sees that the exploration that is currently being carried out will be a valuable asset in the future.

"I learned from Bali gamelan maestros, for example, (I Wayan) Lotring, in the 1920s, Lotring was the first person to declare himself a composer before," said Sudirana when met in Bintaro, South Tangerang some time ago.

He explained that Lotring, who was born in 1887, made a breakthrough in the 1920s by exploring Balinese karwitan. Many people do not understand the new style played by the maestro, because it is considered out of the standard that took effect at the Palace at that time.

"Well, surprisingly, it's only now that Lotring's works are loved and loved," said the man who became a teacher at ISI Denpasar.

According to Sudiana, Lotring is artistic with a vision that is far into the future. Lotring has thought about how Balinese music will be in 2024, in the 2000s. It's been since the 1920s that he thought of something visionary.

What happened to I Wayan Lotring with his music exploration has become a big inspiration for Sudiana. The winner of the 2024 Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) in the Best Music Arranger category wants to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor.

"I'm actually just inspired by that. So, if we just make it by following (which already exists), we won't be able to make new ones," said Sudirana.

"So I thought about how I strengthened myself with references to traditional music that was passed on to me, I learned everything to make a new one. Based on this foundation, I think about the future of Bali gamelan based on what I learned from now on," he said.