Guruh Soekarnoputra, Love Gamelan

In his teens, Guruh was active in the local music community, often performing at many events and parties without pay.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Artist Guruh Soekarnoputra during the Dari Behind the Nada discussion which closed the series of LP Cover Exhibitions entitled No Music, Noise! at the Matatime Gallery, South Jakarta, Sunday (5/5/2024). This exhibition and discussion was held in celebration of the 2024 Physical Music Release Day (Records Store Day).

Guruh Soekarnoputra was born into a family that instilled a love of traditional arts. One of the sons of the Indonesian Proclamator, from childhood he was taught various regional dances and traditional music, including Javanese, Balinese, Sundanese gamelan and Sumatran Malay music.

"From there I also got input about traditional music, especially at that time from Java, Bali, Sundanese. I can finally (play) gamelan. "I've loved gamelan since I was little," said Guruh in the discussion No Music, Noise! at Matatime, ITC Fatmawati, South Jakarta, Sunday (5/5/2024).

During his youth, amidst the music and culture trends developing in Indonesia, Guruh actively participated in the local music community. He also frequently performed at various events and parties without payment.

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Although his dream of studying at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) was dashed by political obstacles, Guruh still followed his passion for the world of arts. He chose to pursue education abroad. His initial goal was France, to study fine arts.

However, fate brought him to the Netherlands. There, he not only pursued his education in archaeology but also got involved in teaching gamelan. At the University of Amsterdam, Guruh joined the musicology community and was given an opportunity to teach Javanese and Balinese gamelan.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Guruh Soekarnoputra when speaking at the Dari Behind Nada discussion which closed the series of LP Cover Exhibitions entitledNo Music, Noise! at the Matatime Gallery, South Jakarta, Sunday (5/5/2024). This discussion featured speakers: blues musician Hari Pochang, artist Guruh Soekarnoputra, photographer Firman Ichsan, graphic artist Indra Ameng, photographer and moderator Oscar Motuloh, music archivist David Tarigan, musician Ridho Hafiedz, and art director Jay Subiakto.

Guruh's ability and dedication to teach traditional Indonesian arts have made him recognized as a talented teacher in the international community. "That's where the person who trained the Balinese gamelan group eventually left, and I was asked to teach Balinese gamelan at the Tropenmuseum," he reminisced.

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This article is the result of collaboration with Kompas daily intern participants: Daffa Almaas Pramesthy, International Relations student at the Jakarta Veteran National Development University.