"Recent Development of Ethnomusicological Studies in Indonesia after Kunts Visits in 1930's"

Bramantyo, Triyono "Recent Development of Ethnomusicological Studies in Indonesia after Kunts Visits in 1930's". Art, Cross-Culture, and Collaboration. pp. 1-15. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

It was a remarkable effect scientifically that soon after the late Kunst visits in Indonesia duri ng the early 1930s that the development of non Western music studies all over the world had had become so quickly developed. The name Jaap (or Jacob) Kunst is always associated to the study of the gamelan music of Indonesia for since then, after one of his PhD students, so called Mantle Hood, completed his study on the topic of “The Nuclear Theme as a Determinant of Patet in Javanese Music” in 1954, the gamelan studies and practice has become developed throughout the world best known universities. According ly, in the USA alone there are now more than 200 gamelan groups have been established. The ideas and the establishment of ethnomusicology would not be happened if Jaap Kunst, as an ethnologist, had never been visited Indonesia in his life time. His visit to Indonesia was also at the right time when the comparative musicology have no longer popular amongst the Western scholars. His works have become world widely well known. Amongst them were written whilst he was in Indonesia; i.e. the Music of Bali (1925 i n Dutch), the Music of Java (originally in Dutch in 1934, last English edition 1973), Music in New Guinea (1967), Music in Nias (1939), Music in Flores (1942) and numerous other books, publications, recordings and musical instruments collections that made Jaap Kunst as the most outstanding scholar on the study of Indonesian musical traditions. It should be noted here that soon after his completion of his doctorate study, Mantle Hood extends the study of ethnomusicology not only as a field study but also as a participatory field study, so on the other hand, a researcher in ethnomusicological study should a participant observer as well. This school of thought, hand in hand with his theory on 'bi musicality', have become very popular since then and thus the cen ter of the study of ethnomusicology has moved from the Netherlands to the United States. With his school of thought, Mantle Hood then settled up the teaching of the gamelan as a practice not only as a theoretical approach or the study of the documents and or recordings. The first gamelan instruments were brought to UCLA in early 1960 right after the Department of Ethnomusicology has been established. Soon after this, he also inviting a gamelan maestro from Yogyakarta, a great maestro gamelan so called Ki Tj okrowasito, the very best teacher of gamelan, to teach in UCLA. This followed by inviting Indonesian scholars in the performing arts to study ethnomusicology and to teach gamelan and dance at the universities in he USA ethnomusicology and to teach gamelan and dance at the universities in he USA in early 1970s. This movement of exchin early 1970s. This movement of exchange have made that the gamelan and dance ange have made that the gamelan and dance of Indonesia have become so widely spread out throughout the USA. of Indonesia have become so widely spread out throughout the USA. Indonesia, however, was very late in responding the trends. The first school Indonesia, however, was very late in responding the trends. The first school of ethnomusicology was established at Institut Seni Indonesia (ISIof ethnomusicology was established at Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta ) Yogyakarta in early 1980s, followed by Universitas Sumatra Utara (USU) and Universitas in early 1980s, followed by Universitas Sumatra Utara (USU) and Universitas Gadjahmada in early 1990s. The first society of ethnomusicology was Gadjahmada in early 1990s. The first society of ethnomusicology was established also in early 1990s but had died out in early 2000 despite that established also in early 1990s but had died out in early 2000 despite that the study of the discipthe study of the discipline is growing steadily.line is growing steadily. From the description above, we noticed that the creation of the discipline of From the description above, we noticed that the creation of the discipline of ethnomusicology was established in the Netherlands but was developed in the ethnomusicology was established in the Netherlands but was developed in the USA while the idea was brought by Jaap Kunst from Indonesia. Whereas thereUSA while the idea was brought by Jaap Kunst from Indonesia. Whereas there were direct influences from the USA to the development of ethnomusicological were direct influences from the USA to the development of ethnomusicological study in Indonesia, less influences were directly come from the Netherlands.study in Indonesia, less influences were directly come from the Netherlands. Keywords: Keywords: gamelangamelan, , ethnomusicologyethnomusicology, , IndonesiaIndonesia.. 1. Jaap

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