A number of years ago Clearview music teacher Karen Ingeman traveled to Indonesia on a Fulbright Scholarship and was introduced to Gamelan. It impressed her so much she and then principal Dan Anderson brought it to Clearview. 

 

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.

 

Multiple layers of interlocking melodies and rhythms using gongs, metallophones and drums create the music. 

 

Gamelan music and dance have distinctive qualities that make it ideal for bridging cultures and traditions, and it was those qualities that attracted Ingeman. 

 

“The art form is so compelling to kids,” Ingeman explained. “It’s also good for them to learn from a non-English speaking teacher, they really have to listen.”

 

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 17 years. The students practice one hour a day for nine days, with their performance on the tenth day.

 

“The students learn a respect for their (the Sutrisno’s) culture and what they bring here,” said Ingeman. “Joko and Tri are very disciplined and structured, and they respect and enjoy the kids in return.”

 

The students also learn to respect the Gamelan instruments, as they are considered very sacred. They should never be stepped over, and shoes are removed before entering a Gamelan room, which sets the tone for respect and dignity. 

 

The fifth and sixth graders performed three dances for the audience during their performance on May 27. 

 

The first dance, the Ratna Sari, was performed by the fifth graders in Mrs. Palmquist’s and Mrs. Broughton’s classes, and was choreographed by Tri Sutrisno. Its name means “essence of jewel” and it draws upon dance styles from different Indonesian regions. The instrumental accompaniment was the Sayuk, which means “together in harmony.”

 

Fifth graders in Profesora Maria’s and Profesora Terri’s classes performed the second dance, called the Saman. Saman means “thousand hands,” and is a traditional social dance in which coordination and timing are essential. The instrumental accompaniment was a popular Gamelan song called Sanguniro, a lively, modern piece influenced by pop music and composed by Joko Sutrisno.

 

The sixth graders performed the final piece of the performance, the Kecak. The Kecak is a form of Balinese music drama and is also known as the Ramayana Monkey Chant. It depicts a battle from the Ramayana in which monkeys help Prince Rama fight the evil King Ravanan, and is traditionally performed by a circle of 100 or more people percussively chanting “chak” and throwing up their arms. It’s an extremely high-energy dance and uses interlocking vocal patterns.

 

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

 

Originally the school rented the instruments, but with the success of the program they eventually purchased their own set.

 

“It [the Gamelan residency] takes commitment and collaboration,” Ingeman said. “Everyone needs to be invested in it.”

 

Clearview is invested. Along with the support of the fifth and sixth grade teachers, art teacher Kathy Gerdts-Senger teaches lessons on Indonesian animals and the students create the artwork that hangs on the walls during the performance. The sixth graders also create the masks they wear during the Kecak in her class.

 

“Gamelan creates a memory that the kids remember and talk about,” said Ingeman. “It brings out something in them they didn’t know they had.”