30 September 2005
An Indonesian translation of "The Gamelan Digul" - the fascinating story of Central Javanese musician Pontjopangrawit - by Monash ethnomusicologist Professor Margaret Kartomi will be launched this Saturday, 1 October.
The book, first published in 2000, has been translated from English into Indonesian by poet and writer Mr Hersri Setiawan. It will be launched by the Indonesian Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr Jero Wacik, as part of the Indonesian Festival at Federation Square.
Pontjopangrawit was jailed in the Tanah Merah ("red earth") prison camp at Boven Digul, Central New Guinea, in 1927 for his anti-colonial protests. While imprisoned, he built the Gamelan Digul from objects including eating utensils, old doors, animal skins, and timber from the surrounding jungle.
A Javanese gamelan is usually a bronze orchestra of about 60 instruments, played for its music or to accompany ritual, ceremony, dance or theatre. It includes four large gongs, kettle gong drums, xylophones, slab metallophones, bowed lutes, flutes and vocal parts.
The Gamelan Digul, which is now held in the Monash Music Archive, became a symbol of the Australian-Indonesian friendship and Australia's link with the Indonesian revolution after it was exported to Australia with prisoners from Digul during World War II. Following the prisoners' arrival in Australia, the Australian Waterside Workers and others worked with them for Indonesian independence by refusing to load ships of weapons bound for Indonesia.
Professor Kartomi said she was moved that representatives of the Indonesian government identified with the gamelan and wanted to make use of it to improve relations between Australia and Indonesia.
"The translation came about because of interest among Indonesians in the story of the Gamelan Digul and the Indonesian government's interest in the gamelan as a symbol of their Independence struggle," Professor Kartomi said.
"I hope that the launch of the book in Indonesian translation will result in increased interest in improving relations between the peoples of our two neighbouring cultures."
Launch details:
What: Launch of The Gamelan Digul and the Prison Camp Musician who Built It -- An Australian Link with the Indonesian Revolution, by Professor Margaret Kartomi
When: Saturday 1 October, 3.20 pm
Where: Federation Square, corner Swanston St and Flinders Street, Melbourne
Who: Professor Margaret Kartomi and Indonesian Minister of Culture and Tourism Mr Jero Wacik
For more information contact Elisa Dimas, Media Communications, on +61 3 9905 9314.
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