The revelation surprised Djoko Walujo Wimboprasetyo–in the last two years, he discovered that the “Sesanti Gadjah Mada,” a composition he crafted decades ago, has become a staple at various UGM events.
This includes the solemnity of bachelor’s degree graduations and the ceremonies of professorial inaugurations.
Djoko, who composed the piece during his tenure as a UGM Faculty of Law student and an active member of the Gaya Surakarta Student Unit, expressed his unsuspecting reaction, “I didn’t know that it has been widely used in UGM events.”
Nestled in the Kricak Lor area, Djoko shared the story at his residence, accompanied by his wife, Endang S Wimboprasetyo.
“Yes, for several years now, my husband has been unwell after falling in the living room of our house in America. He has been working as a visiting lecturer at the California Institute of the Arts since around 1992,” Endang said.
“After graduating from the Faculty of Law, he briefly taught at the Academy of Dance Arts Yogyakarta–ASTI [formerly in Karangmalang] and the Indonesian Institute of the Arts Yogyakarta before settling in the United States.”
“Yes, in the US, I taught anything, from dance to gamelan,” added Djoko, born in Surakarta on Dec. 15, 1946.
In the United States, Djoko made a name for himself as a lecturer at the California Institute of the Arts from 1992 until his retirement in 2023. He is renowned as a Javanese gamelan teacher in the Department of Ethnomusicology at UCLA (2005-2006).
Respected for his teaching acumen, Djoko’s works resonate across various music festivals in America. From 1997 to 2019, he taught and performed gamelan music for the Center for World Music.
Djoko has been a Javanese gamelan coach at several institutions, including the Consulate General of Indonesia (Los Angeles), UCLA, UC Riverside, San Diego State University, and Canyon Crest Academy (San Diego).
The inception of “Sesanti Gadjah Mada” has faded from Djoko’s memory. Still, he recalls that it was during the leadership of Professor Soeroso at UGM. He regularly trained employees of the Faculty of Law in preparation for faculty or university events.
Djoko stumbled upon the realization that “Sesanti Gadjah Mada” was featured in significant university events through UGM’s YouTube channel, a link of which was shared by a friend last year. He acknowledges that the current version differs from the original, noting a slower tempo.
“It is supposed to be fast and loud,” he softly remarked.
Yet, Djoko is elated that his creation resonates widely at UGM. During the recent inauguration ceremony of professors at the UGM Senate Hall, Djoko and his wife heard “Sesanti Gadjah Mada” accompanying the professors as they entered the senate room. This moment evoked pride and joy, knowing his composition echoed in such a prestigious forum.
The Rector of UGM, Professor Ova Emilia, expressed her gratitude to Djoko, stating, “Thank you for contributing your work to UGM.”
Eddy Pursubaryanto, a close friend of Djoko Walujo and a retired lecturer from the UGM Faculty of Cultural Sciences, emphasized Djoko’s role as a Javanese music composer and a coach for “lembah manah” karawitan.
Eddy believes that Djoko Walujo deserves recognition from Universitas Gadjah Mada as an alum devoted to Indonesian culture.
Author: Satria
Photographer: Donnie