The 2024 New Year’s celebration came alive with spectacular events scattered across the globe—this moment, ripe with possibilities, beckoned art enthusiasts and performers alike to captivate eager audiences.
Stepping up to the challenge, the Pradangga Sastra Inggris (Prasasti), a UGM English Literature’s gamelan group, demonstrated its prowess by gracing two stages on Dec. 30-31, 2023.
Under the leadership of Jardin Urbania Basundoro, the Prasasti team received a direct invitation from the Youth and Sports Office of Wonogiri Regency to perform on Saturday (Dec. 30) at the 2023 Creative Economy Festival (Fesmikraf).
This annual extravaganza, organized by the Wonogiri Regency Government to usher in the new year, has garnered heightened community enthusiasm since its kickoff on Dec. 24, 2023. At its zenith on Saturday night, the Prasasti took the stage, entertaining a sea of spectators in the city square.
Sharing the limelight with the Prasasti team were 12 diverse art groups, ranging from students to art studios in Wonogiri. While each performance radiated meticulousness in presenting distinct art forms, Prasasti stood out as the sole representative from outside Wonogiri.
Fesmikraf 2023 metamorphosed into a captivating platform for all art enthusiasts to weave cultural heritage into the community’s collective consciousness. The harmonious fusion of gamelan melodies and Javanese songs cast a spell on the audience, creating a unique euphoria.
Having triumphantly graced Fesmikraf, Prasasti received another invitation to ring in the New Year with the Indonesian Student Art Lovers and Artists Forum (Formatasindo). This time, the team joined the lineup of performers at the 12th Gamelan Parade.
Spearheaded by Formatasindo’s Supervisor, Dr. Sukisno, the artful spectacle unfolded at Omah Gelar Seni Budaya, Tritunggal Cultural Area, Manisrenggo, Klaten. Unlike Fesmikraf 2023, the 12th Gamelan Parade extended its vibrant celebration from 1:00 pm to 01:00 am the following day.
The team presented two compositions by Nanang Karbito, the Prasasti coach and a distinguished composer of contemporary gamelan songs. The tunes, titled Nareswari and Hyang, wove narratives of profound significance.
Nareswari unfolds a tale of a couple forced to part ways unexpectedly on their journey. The plot resonates deeply with contemporary romance stories, addressing the unpredictable twists that can bring an end to a relationship.
In tandem with Nareswari, the composition Hyang unfolds another captivating narrative. It reveres the magnificence and grandeur of the Almighty God, underscoring the ceaseless blessings bestowed upon human life.
Amidst mortal distractions, humans often forget to express gratitude for these blessings and succumb to worldly desires. The Hyang composition, rich in sacred meaning, is a poignant reminder to offer gratitude to the Almighty every second.
As the New Year dawned, it urged everyone to reflect on the happenings of 2023 and embrace the joy of the impending 2024.
The 2023 Gamelan Parade featured an additional 20 gamelan art groups from diverse universities. Their performances, marked by uniqueness, intrigue, and freshness, demonstrated that Indonesian artistry is timeless.
While aligning with the zeitgeist, it shows that transmitting cultural heritage through contemporary methods is doable and can still preserve the nation’s noble values.
The fervent hope is that communities brimming with youthful art enthusiasts like the Prasasti team from the UGM Faculty of Cultural Sciences will persist and flourish, ensuring the enduring legacy of Indonesian arts.
Author: Tasya