A visiting professor from the University of Michigan brought the sounds of Javanese music to campus on Monday. In the presentation "Indonesian Gamelan Music" in the International Center, Professor Matheus Wasi Bantolo demonstrated the instruments used to make gamelan music.
Gamelan is a style of traditional Indonesian music performed on a large range of gongs, drums and other percussion instruments. Bantolo only brought two small instruments, but showed slides of the others used in a full performance.
Bantolo has been teaching at U-M since January 2003, when he came to the United States for the first time. Bantolo grew up in Java, Indonesia, and learned the music as a child.
"My father is a musician," Bantolo said. "I grew up around gamelan."
Bantolo went to a performing arts high school and college where he studied choreography and composition. After graduation, he taught traditional music to students in Java before he was contacted by U-M.
"It is an exciting challenge," Bantolo said of teaching in the United States. "I am learning a whole new culture."
Bantolo's wife, Olivia Retno Widyastuti, accompanied his lecture by performing a traditional Javanese dance to illustrate its style.
The presentation was one in a series called "Asian Rhythms: Traditional Music, Modern Manifestations," which began in the fall and is sponsored by the Asian Studies Center.
"People have really enjoyed the combination of lecture and performance," Marilyn McCullough, assistant director for the center said of the series.
McCullough said the series originated from a discussion with MSU Professor David Stowe. Stowe said the series was needed to give students a better understanding of Asian styles of music.
"Music can open a door into other cultures," Stowe said. "This series is a way for students to witness, firsthand, the musical traditions they are learning about."
Biology senior Sarah Hojnacki came to the presentation to get extra credit in her Integrative Studies in Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences class.
"I'm thankful for this kind of presentation," Hojnacki said. "My major is all science stuff, and it doesn't leave a lot of room for electives. These activities help us get a well-rounded education."
