ER
FKY 2021 Mereka Rekam formed a research team to carry out a more in-depth critical reading of the culture in Yogyakarta. Resa Setodewo, as one of the members of the FKY research team, noted that gamelan production is a part of culture that has survived to this day.
Gamelan has knowledge that should be maintained and passed on. Adhering to the guidelines for besalen (gamelan production house) and prapen (fireplace for making gamelan) which are the heart of the gamelan making process, Resa Setodewo tried to find and map the besalen which is still active in Yogyakarta.
The research began by visiting four besalen in Yogyakarta, namely Hadi Seno Gamelan managed by Sugeng Tri, Daliyono Legiono Gamelan managed by Legi, Bondo Gongso Gamelan managed by Tri Suko, and Gamelan Center (CV Karya Mandiri Wibowo) managed by Bowo. The four locations chosen did not cover all gamelan makers in Yogyakarta.
Currently, there are approximately 30 craftsmen working on brass and iron gamelan. Some of them gathered to establish the Yogyakarta Gamelan Crafts Association (PPGY) in order to unite their vision and mission.
At least 35 gamelan craftsmen have joined, about ten of whom are able to work on bronze gamelan. Not all of the gamelan craftsmen in Yogyakarta have the skills to make bronze gamelan. Two names that are known as bronze gamelan makers in Yogyakarta are Ki Trimanto Triwiguna (swargi) and Darjo (swargi). Ki Trimanto Triwiguna is the founder of the bronze besalen Pradangga Yasa which became the last generation after he died.
Currently, there is almost no bronze gamelan produced in Besalen. The absence of bronze gamelan production in Yogyakarta made it necessary for some gamelan to be imported from outside Yogyakarta.
PPGY has big plans to build a bronze gamelan making besalen in Yogyakarta. This plan is in line with their concern about the existence of the bronze gamelan besalen which is not yet active.
The presence of bronze gamelan besalen is expected to be able to create an ecosystem that supports gamelan as one of the cultures promoted by Yogyakarta. In addition, the existence of this besalen can later make Yogyakarta gamelan craftsmen able to compete with other regions in Central Java.
In his research, Resa Setodewo found one of the biggest problems faced by gamelan craftsmen in Yogyakarta, namely inheritance. This is also one of the reasons for the absence of a successor to the bronze gamelan besalen in Yogyakarta after Trimanto’s death. Currently there are no bronze gamelan makers in Yogyakarta because there is no inheritance carried out by the last generation. However, this inheritance effort still occurs to brass and iron gamelan craftsmen.
The process of inheritance is the concern of gamelan craftsmen in Yogyakarta. Some craftsmen carry out the process of inheriting the knowledge of making gamelan using a system such as nyantrik so that the making of gamelan is still alive. Efforts to revive the making of bronze gamelan have challenges that are not easy.
It needs the attention of policy makers in the cultural area to participate. Gamelan is an important part of Yogyakarta culture. Maintaining and preserving the process of making gamelan is part of the development as well as cultural empowerment for future generations.
In addition to recording gamelan, the 2021 FKY Research Team and the community also recorded various other cultures in Yogyakarta. The results of this recording can be further explored through the website FKY 2021 Mereka Rekam website at www.fky.id . [traveltext.id]
