Java’s Faded Keroncong Genre Gets Modern Revival
The music is mild and melodious; too slow for most young people of today. The lyrics are usually melancholic and explore the beauty of nature, romance and Indonesia’s struggles for independence — a bittersweet remembrance of a bygone era.
It’s no wonder that the charms of Indonesia’s Keroncong have faded.
The music developed as a local variation from the folk music carried by Portuguese slaves who landed in North Jakarta throughout the 1660s.
Keroncong reached its height of popularity between the late 1800s and early 1900s, when it was often featured in Komedie Stamboel (opera with European, Middle Eastern and Malay influences) performances in the cities of Java.
But now the music is rarely heard on television or radio. And live Keroncong performances are almost nonexistent.
Sundari Soekotjo is one of Indonesia’s few remaining Keroncong icons; the award-winning singer refuses to let the music fade into oblivion.
“Keroncong is my soul,” the 49-year-old says.
“And I want to keep reintroducing Keroncong and make people fall in love with the music all over again.”
With this aim in mind, Sundari established the Indonesia Keroncong Foundation (Yakin) in Jakarta last year.
Yakin, alongside the Bakti Budaya Djarum Foundation and Kresna Jaya Police — a Keroncong group created by members of the Indonesian police — will present “Keroncong Djoeara Noesantara” (Kedjora), a weekend of Keroncong performances in Galeri Indonesia Kaya (GIK) at Grand Indonesia Shopping Town, Central Jakarta, which closes on Sunday.
The GIK public art space is owned and managed by the Bakti Budaya Djarum Foundation to foster Indonesian art and culture.
“We’ve had two Keroncong performances in GIK before,” said Renitasari Adrian, program director of Bakti Budaya Djarum Foundation.
“The events were quite well-attended. That’s why we’re quite enthusiastic when Sundari proposed the Kedjora event to us.”
Each day of the event features two Keroncong performances. Today’s shows are scheduled at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., while Saturday and Sunday’s performances will be held at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
“We’re looking forward to a full house for each performance,” said Renitasari, Bakti Budaya Djarum Foundation’s program director.
Sundari was very excited to learn of the Keroncong festival.
“I hope this event will answer the yearning of Keroncong fans who have been waiting for the music’s live performances to return for quite some time,” the singer said.
Kedjora Keroncong Week opened with a performance by maestra Sundari and her daughter, Intan.
They were accompanied by Keroncong orchestra Pesona Jiwa, managed by award-winning Keroncong musician-songwriter, Koko Thole.
But this event is not just an answer to the demands of Keroncong’s die-hard fans.
The event also aims to introduce and foster a love for this genre of Indonesian music among today’s youth.
Ten young Indonesian pop, rock, dangdut and jazz singers will collaborate with Keroncong artists and musicians during the event.
Some of Indonesia’s biggest names in music will perform, including jazz singer Dira Sugandi, dangdut singer Ikke Nurjanah, J-Rocks’ vocalist and guitarist Iman Taufik Rachman and pop singer Yana Julio.
“I think cross-genre [collaborations] are great,” Sundari said.
“If we’re too idealistic and rule out collaborations I believe it will discourage young people from learning and loving the music.”
These singers will take to the stage with some of their own songs, which have been reworked to Keroncong arrangement and style, as well as classic Keroncong songs.
Finalist of Indonesian Idol 2009, Kunto Aji Wibisono, for example, will perform his own pop song “Terlalu Lama Sendiri” (“Alone for Too Long”), as well as the classic Keroncong number “Jembatan Merah” (“Red Bridge”) during the Saturday session.
“I’ve wanting to learn Keroncong for quite some time, but didn’t know whom to ask or how to start,” Kunto said.
“So, I was really glad when Sundari called me and asked me to collaborate in this event.”
“I will text all my friends and encourage them to come,” Kunto said.
Jazz singer, Rieka Roeslan, will also perform during the event. On Saturday she’ll take to the stage with her song “Dahulu” (“Then”) alongside the traditional Indonesian number “Bengawan Solo.”
“I carried the song [“Bengawan Solo”] a couple of years ago at an international festival and received a standing ovation,” Rieka said.
“It shows that people in the international community really appreciate it when we return to our roots.”
“Our culture is indeed our strength,” the jazz singer said.
A number of Keroncong orchestras will accompany these singers during their performances, among them the famous Keroncong Tugu Cafrinho from Cilincing, North Jakarta, Keroncong Tren from Bandung, West Java, Sanggam Abadi from East Kalimantan and Alun Nada from South Jakarta.
“Alun Nada is a new orchestra established by [my daughter] Intan and her friends,” Sundari said. “I’m so happy that these young people are interested to learn to play Keroncong music.”
Kresna Jaya Police, an organization of police musicians, played the festival on Thursday.
“There are seven of us, policemen and policewomen, in the orchestra,” Brig said. Gen. Setyo Wasisto, who manages the group.
The group often performs on television, as well as at police events.
“I hope this event will become a starting point for Keroncong’s revival in the country,” the police brigadier general said. “And Keroncong will again be loved and respected in its own home country.”
All performances are free-of-charge, but attendees must register in advance at www.indonesiakaya.com.
“We received many reservations on just the morning after we uploaded the schedule to the website,” program director Renitasari said.
“It proves that the people still love Keroncong music.”
For more information, visit www.indonesiakaya.com.
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