Yogyakarta - Karawitan Study Program, Faculty of Performing Arts, Institut Seni Indonesia Yogyakarta, is involved in a series of activities 70th Asia-Africa Conference (KAA) by organizing Karawitan Workshop for international delegates. This activity is one of the important agendas in order to strengthen cultural relations between countries through traditional Indonesian arts.
The workshop, which took place on the ISI Yogyakarta campus, was attended by KAA delegates from various countries, including Italy, Germany, and countries in the African region. The participants were warmly welcomed by Dr. Asep Saepudin, S. Sn., M. A., as the Head of Karawitan Art Study Program. In his speech, he emphasized that this activity is not just a traditional music learning, but also a form of cultural diplomacy that introduces the values of harmony, togetherness, and mutual cooperation through gamelan.
As an introduction, participants were introduced to the basic knowledge of karawitan - from the structure of gamelan ensembles, the types of instruments, to the musical philosophies contained therein. After the theoretical session, the activity continued with the practice of playing together, performing two gamelan repertoires namely Gending Gangsaran and Lancaran Bindri.
The atmosphere of the rehearsal was full of enthusiasm and joy. As the delegates began to play the gamelan, language and cultural boundaries seemed to melt into one. Through the rhythm and beat of each note, they interacted naturally - listening to each other, adjusting the tempo, and finding the balance of sound between instruments. In the process, the values of togetherness and mutual cooperation that are the spirit of karawitan were evident, creating a harmony that was not only heard, but also felt.
This workshop became a warm and egalitarian space for cross-national encounters. Gamelan becomes a universal language that connects differences into unity. From the echoing sound of the gong to the sonorous sound of the saron, each note symbolizes wordless communication - teaching that togetherness and mutual listening are the keys to creating harmony, both in music and in life.
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