Gamelan Pura Paku Alaman (K.R.T. Wasitodipuro)

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Gamelan Pura Paku Alaman (K.R.T. Wasitodipuro) · In School of Rock, the gamelan of the Paku Alaman palace in Yogyakarta is led by K.R.T. Wasitodipuro, a name that also appears in the sources as Tjokrowasito, Wasitodiningrat and Notoprojo. He was born on 17 March 1909 in Yogyakarta and died on 30 August 2007. His official name changed several times, in keeping with the honorific titles he received during his life. He was regarded as one of the most highly esteemed performers of Javanese gamelan.

Music and breakthrough

Wasitodipuro grew up in the palace. At the age of five he began learning gamelan from his legal father, R.W. Padmowinangum, who led the palace orchestra. He also played in other famous groups, such as Daya Pradangga, and from 1934 he was musical director of gamelan at the radio station MAVRO. In 1962 he took over from his father as leader of the gamelan of Pura Pakualaman. The style of this palace had elements of both the court of the sultan of Yogyakarta and that of the sunan in Solo. In 2004 he received the Nugraha Bhakti Musik Indonesia Award.

Influence

Ketawang Puspawarna from 1971 is a piece from that court tradition. A ketawang is a fixed, fairly short form in Javanese gamelan music, in which gong strokes mark the cycle. He is regarded as one of the important custodians of classical Javanese court music.

Listening

• 
  Ketawang Puspawarna · Gamelan Pura Paku Alaman (K.R.T. Wasitodipuro), 1971