DKJ Gives Traditional Music Space Through The International Ethnic Music Festival

Talk to the media International Ethnic Music Festival (IEMF) 2023. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ) Music Committee consistently provides greater space and extends to traditional music so that it can be known to the wider audience as well as be able to continue to survive and fill in the context of urban society through the 2023 International Ethnic Music Festival (IEMF).

The IEMF 2023 will be held for three days on October 25-27, 2023 at the Great Theater, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta by presenting music performances from four music groups, namely HORGABIUS, INO ensemble, Morale Chinese Orchestra, and Talawengkar. HORJABIUS is a music group that implements the endangered Batak ethnicity and poetry, while Indonesian National Orchestra INO is a forum for Indonesia's typical instrumental musicals.

The other two performers are the Chinese Orchestra Morale which consistently preserves Chinese music with traditional instruments in the form of contemporary music and Talawengkar which is a music group consisting of genteng craftsmen in Jatiwangi.

In addition to performances, the DKJ Music Committee also held a series of agendas to create knowledge distributions in Masterclass and Discussion of Work with performers.

"This program does not only focus on preserving traditional music, but also develops and creates new possibilities in the development of traditional music," said Music Committee Chairman Arham Aryadi at a media conference session in Jakarta, Wednesday, quoting Antara.

Arham said that the program aims not only to preserve traditional music, but also to develop it in a new direction through a series of performances, workshops, and discussions.

"From there, a new dialogue was formed between traditional musicians, both from within and outside the country to understand that traditional music remains relevant and develops in line with the changing times," he explained.

The 2023 IEMF is a real action in providing space for appreciation of traditional music that is not just a series of sounds, but marks the life and development of a community.

Traditional music is not only artistic activities, but rather a meaning that grows in community culture. So far, the role, meaning, and function of traditional music are very close in people's lives in elements of worship, daily rituals, life cycle ceremonies, death, as well as entertainment.

Even so, in the growing popularity of popular music, traditional music is increasingly marginalized and now it is only displayed in certain locations with limited audiences or sometimes only become internal consumption of people's culture.

The carefully chosen traditional music show will bring deep experience to the audience. This event presents traditional music in a more appropriate format so that the quality of traditional music from the four music groups can be enjoyed properly and certainly satisfies all music lovers who attend," explained Arham.

At the IEMF 2023 event, four traditional music group performers will present stunning works that will provide a different experience in watching a traditional musical performance. Their performance, Arham continued, was prepared very carefully for Jakarta music lovers.