Professor Margaret Kartomi playing a gamolan

Professor Margaret Kartomi of the University’s School of Music – Conservatorium, recently presented the keynote address at the International Seminar on the Traditional Lampung Musical Instrument, the gamolan.

The event, which was organised so that young Lampung people can learn more about their indigenous art and culture, was attended by more than a hundred elders in traditional costume.

The gamolan is an eight keyed bamboo instrument, beaten by two musicians, each with a pair of wooden hammers. Professor Kartomi believes this instrument is of great ethnomusicological interest.

“I was attracted by the gamolan because of its incredibly sweet sound when played by experts, the fact that it is found in the isolated mountainous areas near 3000-year old megalithic sites, and its interesting name, which suggests that the instrument may date from the 8th century or earlier, though it later became the name of a whole orchestra – the gamelan – rather than a single instrument,” Professor Kartomi said.

Invited to the conference to speak on the origins of the gamolan by the Governor of Lampung Indonesia, Drs Sjachroeddin ZP, Professor Kartomi has been researching the instrument since visiting Lampung in 1983.

“I hope that through this seminar, the gamolan and other Lampung arts will receive the national recognition it deserves. The music of this area is one where very little ethnomusicological data has been collected,” said Professor Kartomi.

The Governor of Lampung has invited Professor Karatomi to return in December to receive a formal title traditionally reserved for royalty and honoured guests as part of his efforts to promote the culture of the Lampung people.

Professor Margaret Kartomi and Mr Kemal Sjachdinata, grandson of the Governor of Lampung

The title of Queen has been bestowed upon a Monash University researcher for her work in reconstructing the origins of the Indonesian province of Lampung’s traditional musical instruments.

Professor Margaret Kartomi from the University’s School of Music – Conservatorium, was invited by the Governor of Lampung, Drs Sjachroeddin ZP, to take the formal title of ‘Ratu Berlian Sangun Anggun’ which translates to ‘Beautiful Queen Jewel’. The title is normally reserved for Lampung clan members and formerly for royalty.

The region of Lampung is found within Indonesia’s largest island, Sumatra.

Professor Kartomi began researching Lampung traditional music in 1983. One of her major achievements has been the discovery of the gamolan which was historically used by people in northern and north-western Lampung but was almost lost in contemporary times.

The gamolan is an eight-keyed bamboo instrument, beaten by two musicians, each with a pair of wooden hammers.

Since Professor Kartomi’s discovery, the instrument has found a new audience around the province and is now played by thousands. Last October it was patented as an instrument that symbolises the identity and unity of the people of Lampung province.

Professor Kartomi described the recognition as an “unbelievable honour”, and said the presentation of the title was a wonderful experience.

“I wore full ceremonial dress in a formal ceremony and was received as an honorary member of the Lampung clan by the Governor and the Traditional Lampung Council of Elders (MPAL),” Professor Kartomi said.

As part of the ceremony, hundreds of young musicians took turns to play the gamolan over a period of 25 hours, thereby creating a formally recognised world record for the longest non-stop gamolan performance. The Governor was then awarded a World Record certificate on behalf of the people of Lampung by the Director of Indonesia’s World Records Museum.

Students from Monash University’s School of Music – Conservatorium recently had the opportunity to learn from acclaimed Italian jazz musicians during a three-week tour to Tuscany.

Jazz in Prato, a biennial program, now it its fourth year, saw 25 Jazz and Popular Studies students attend the Monash Centre in Prato, where they participated in daily performance workshops and classes with musicians and academics from diverse backgrounds.

Robert Burke, Head of the School of Music and program leader said the feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive.

“Many students have said they thought this program was among the best experiences of their lives,” Mr Burke said.

“It’s great to be able to offer the students a chance to study and perform with so many great musicians and to be able to stay in such a beautiful and artistically rich part of the world.”

Students from

the local Prato Verdi music school, Scuola Communale di Musica ‘Giuseppe Verdi’, were integrated into the study program with Monash University students and together, students from both schools undertook preparation for a series of performances.

The performances took place at a number of local venues including the Theatre Politeama and the Monash Prato Centre’s Salone concert room.

The tour culminated in a week-long residency at La Fontana jazz club in Verona, where the students continued to attend classes and had the chance to participate in nightly jam sessions.

Several day trips and tours offered students insight into the history and rich cultural heritage of Italy, covering Rome, Vatican City, Tuscan cities such as Sienna, San Gimignano and Florence, as well as Prato and Verona.

“This tour also allowed for Monash to further develop its ongoing relationship with the Prato Verdi School, which will continue to open up additional opportunities,” Mr Burke said.

“This tour has provided the opportunity for these students to establish lasting friendships with local Italian musicians that will allow the students to return in the future and continue their music journey.”

Professor Tony Gould

In a coup for Monash University, internationally renowned performer, educator and musicologist, Dr Tony Gould AM has accepted the position of Professor within the School of Music – Conservatorium.

Commencing in 2012, Professor Gould will teach across the undergraduate program in jazz, classical performance, composition, history and arranging. In addition, he will work to enhance the development, understanding and promotion of ‘performance-based’ research within the music school.

Professor Tony Gould is widely regarded as one of Australia’s most distinguished jazz musicians and educators. In 2008, he was awarded an Order of Australia for his services to the arts, in particular, music education, as well as his work promoting jazz and improvised music.

With a career spanning more than five decades he has received innumerable accolades for his contributions to music as a composer, performer, recording artist, musician and teacher.

Professor Gould now brings that expertise to Monash University.

Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Professor Rae Frances, said Professor Gould’s appointment enhances the Monash School of Music’s reputation as one of the premier music institutions in Australia. In addition, it promotes the School’s ever-growing international reputation for excellence in performance, composition, ethnomusicology and musicology.

“Tony’s decision to join Monash is, without question, an absolute triumph for the University – there isn’t a better musician to build the already impressive reputation of the School of Music,” Professor Frances said.

“The School already attracts students and visiting academics from all over the world. It is also highly successful at obtaining competitive research funding. I can only envisage that with Tony’s expertise the School will continue to flourish.”

In accepting the position, Professor Gould emphasised his delight at joining the University where he completed his post-graduate studies; an institution that has a positive and bright future in music education, as well as more broadly.

Mr Finkel, a management consultant, has degrees from Monash University in both Music and Aerospace Engineering majoring in aerodynamics and computational fluid dynamics.

Mr Finkel said he was delighted to be a Rhodes Scholar and with his experience in management, engineering and as a jazz musician he looks forward to the deepening of his understanding of how best to have an impact on the world.

Read the full article here

Jazz students at the School of Music – Conservatorium had the opportunity to meet with Dr David Schroeder, Associate Professor and Director of Jazz Studies at the prestigious New York University.

Dr Schroeder’s visit was supported through the Faculty of Arts’ Distinguished Visiting Scholar Scheme and hosted by Mr Robert Burke, Head of the School of Music – Conservatorium.

Mr Burke and Dr Schroeder met in 2010 during a visit with 30 undergraduate students from Monash who participated in a summer exchange program at NYU.

More information can be found on the Monash University event page.

Program Semester 2 2011

All concerts in this series are  held on Thursdays during semester from 3 March.
For full program details see the brochure [PDF, 360k)

JULY

28 July: Adoramus

AUGUST

4 August: Debussy & Beethoven
11 August: A Master’s Interpretation
18 August: George Garzone — Jazz Saxophonist
25 August: Monash Academy Ensemble

SEPTEMBER

1 September: Dance!
8 September: Fortepiano and Friends
15 September: Sam Evans Ensemble
22 September: Student Snap Shot

OCTOBER

6 October: A Choral Fantasia
13 October: Palaver
20 October: From the Sublime to the Ridiculous!

Location & Admission Information

• 1.10pm to 1.50pm.

• Music Auditorium, Building 68,
  Clayton Campus
  Wellington Road
  Monash University

• Admission is $5 at the door
• Discounts available to group bookings of 10+, and Semester passes are also available
  see information below

Lunchtime Semester Pass

Enquiries 9905 3230 or at Box Office on concert day.

• $21 for 6 concerts (Semester 1, 2011)
• $33 for 10 concerts (Semester 1, 2011)

Free coffee/tea at Joe’s for Semester Pass Holders

As part of your Lunchtime Semester Pass you are entitled to receive a free coffee or
tea with any meal purchase before the lunchtime concert from Joe’s (Building 10).

• Note: Bookings required on 9905 5294.
• This offer is only valid on the day of the concert on presentation of your Lunchtime Semester Pass.

Enquiries

For further information contact Jodie Wood, School Manager.

• Telephone 03 9905 3230 or 0418 135 496
• Fax 03 9905 3241

for more information about performances and events at the School of Music see the Calendar

Supported by Monash University Academy of Performing Arts
Produced by the School of Music – Conservatorium.

Mr Finkel, a management consultant, has degrees from Monash University in both Music and Aerospace Engineering majoring in aerodynamics and computational fluid dynamics.

Mr Finkel said he was delighted to be a Rhodes Scholar and with his experience in management, engineering and as a jazz musician he looks forward to the deepening of his understanding of how best to have an impact on the world.

Read the full article here