Clearview fifth and sixth graders presented their annual Gamelan performance May 26 to a large crowd of family and school staff.

 

Gamelan is the traditional ensemble music of Java and Bali in Indonesia, and is among the most well known of the traditional performing art forms of the country.  The term Gamelan refers to the entire set of instruments as well as the music played on them and the group who plays them.

 

The first dance performed by the students was Sekar Aum with Binga, which means fragrant flower, a dance that anticipates the warmth and joy of springtime. Students from Mrs. Palmquist’s and Mrs. Coulter’s classes played the instruments, and students from Profesora Hennes’ class were the dancers.

 

The second dance was Ratna Sari, which reflects each island on Indonesia as having its own personality and culture, yet creates one shining whole as a pearl on a strand of pearls. Instructor Tri Sutrisno choreographed the dance, which was performed by Mrs. Palmquist’s and Mrs. Coulter’s classes. Profesora Hennes’ class played the instruments.

 

The final piece of the performance was the Kecak, also known as the Ramayana Monkey Chant, which was performed by sixth graders from Mrs. Clymer’s and Mr. Schmitz’s classes. The dance is a form of Balinese music drama and depicts a battle from the Ramayana in which monkeys help Prince Rama fight the evil King Ravanan.

 

Throughout the performance students gave reflections on their experiences learning Gamelan, talking about how much fun it was to learn to play different instruments and dances from another country. 

 

Along with the support of the fifth and sixth grade teachers, art teacher Kathy Gerdts-Senger taught lessons on Indonesian animals and had the students create artwork to hang on the walls during the performance. The sixth graders also created the masks they wore during the Kecak in her class.

 

Instructors Joko and Tri Sutrisno are originally from Indonesia, and have brought their 10-day Gamelan residency to the fifth and sixth grade students of Clearview for the past 18 years. The students practice one hour a day for nine days, with their performance on the tenth day.

 

“Gamelan awakens them [children] to a different culture which is so important,” music teacher Karen Ingeman told the audience. 

 

At the end of the performance the students presented the Sutrisnos with a card and book of memories as a thank you.

 

The PTA (Parent Teacher Association) sponsors Clearview’s Gamelan music and dance residency, bringing in the Sutrisnos each year.