Dwiki Dharmawan’s World Peace Orchestra at UGM Jogja: The Report
Following the success of a very artistic concert 10 years ago with Twilite Orchestra, this time Gadjah Mada University (UGM) once again presented a bigger one. World Peace Orchestra, conducted and led by Dwiki Dharmawan, a very big ensemble blasted the Grha Sabha Pramana (GSP) building on the wonderful night of last Saturday, October 17, 2009.
World Peace Orchestra is a mega project that came from the brain of a very creative musician, Dwiki Dharmawan. He gathered many musicians from around the world, combined them with some of the best local talents. Wide diversity of styles, music backgrounds, and also instruments are found in this phenomenal orchestra. Together they present the most delicious world music, based on some of the best ethnical music found in Indonesia. The concept is amazing, the mission is awesome, and the message is clear. With the existance of World Peace Orchestra, we can be sure that ethnical musics from various different tribes and cultures of Indonesia will still have a long life, or even a better life.
We saw the greatness of this world class ensemble last June at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta. (Check out the report of Dwiki Dharmawan’s World Peace Orchestra Concert at GKJ with lots of pictures attached) This time World Peace Orchestra arrived in Jogjakarta with different guest stars and different playlists. 
One of them was the very popular Krisdyanti (KD). After an hour late from the schedule, this concert that carried “UGM Cares” as the theme was finally started at 9:30 PM. All the audience finally could enter the room and rushed to find the most strategic seat to see this stunning project the best they could. Without further due, the audiences were hypnotized by the soft and mystical voice of Peni Chandrarini taking on a Javanese song. The room was in silence, it felt like magic. The lights were on right after she went out from the stage. The second song was filled with heavy sounds of percussions, strings and brass sections. It was the song called “Assalamualaikum”, a famous song originally made by Raihan but this time appeared differently with Dwiki’s re-arrangement. The crowds loved it, not only because it’s a very popular song with lovely new arrangement, but also because the Diva, Krisdayanti (KD) was the one who sang it. Dwiki made it in fully glorious outfit, and that stunned the audiences.
After some brief introduction from the host, a man wearing white suit and turban appeared on stage. He was Rafli, an artist from Aceh. He sang two songs, “Ya Rabbanaa” and an Aceh song, “Meukeondroe”. These both religious songs were brought gloriously with his unique voice character. Dwiki was on piano playing some high octave melody. The other one was came in form of jazz rock, added with lovely flute song courtesy of Saad Borneo.
The fifth song featured Dewa Budjana, one of the guitar maestro of Indonesia. He played “On The Way Home”, a chill-out ambience song taken from his album, “Home” (2005). This song was started with cool guitar and flute duet, before Budjana took his neat solo part. In the middle of his solo, the tempo changed into 7/8 but still went on together with the majestic sound of the orchestra and then he returned it again to 4/4. It was absolutely stunning.
Next, Dwiki played an intro with thick keroncong (a kind of traditional music that resemblance the Portuguese’s Fado music) nuance. Some magical pentatonic scales was brought by Dwiki. Peni Chandrarini came back on stage and took everyone’s breath again with her unique voice. Peni sang a traditional Javanese song “Lir Ilir” together with Joe Rosenberg’s saxophone. At the improvisation part, the orchestra switched from keroncong to swing jazz. Rosenberg’s tenor sax was sound playful and funny, it fitted perfectly with the prime vocal of Peni. This traditional Javanese song sounded very spectacular with the new arrangement by Dwiki Dharmawan.
Right after “Lir Ilir” came the next song, entitled “Rintak Rebana”. This song became special because the main melody was led by Anggito Abimanyu, the head of Fiscal Affair from Monetary Department which also a lecturer and alumni of UGM. In the middle of the song, he called Steve Thornton, a great percussionist from USA that currently lives in Malaysia. Steve played his jimbe in a strong and dynamic way.
Krisdayanti who also known as KD appeared again. Before she sang, she stated that Dwiki is a hard worker musician, proffesional, and really committed to raise Indonesian music. “We have to support him” she said, and the crowds gave big applause. this time Krisdayanti The Diva sang a keroncong song written by Maladi that was already arranged by Joko Sebastian Lemazh, a composer from ISI Yogya. KD brought this song elegantly accompanied by heavy string orchestra. She was truly the show stealer that night!
World Peace Orchestra continued with a composition entitled “Gunungan”, a song written by the contemporary composer I Nyoman Windha and Dwiki Dharmawan. The intro was big, it reminded me of Hollywood movie theme style, but then it was added by Balinese gamelan. This song was getting more mystical when kendang (the traditional double headed drum) and flute came along. At the end of composition, UGM Choir sang “Janger”, a traditional Balinese song nicely with Dwiki on keyboard. Agam Hamzah gave some blues pattern on it, Rosenberg played solo and a stunning percussion duet by Rejoz “The Groove” and Thornton from the upper side of the stage. This one was an awesome composition. It seemed like the audiences were stunned as they clapped their hands quite late.
Butet Kertaradjasa, the famous artiste gave his monologue that always funny but meaningful. After that, the future Diva, Dira Sugandi came on stage singing “Indonesia Pusaka”, a famous song by Ismail Marzuki. This song was re-arranged by Singgih Sanjaya from ISI Yogyakarta. The brass and string filled the air that night. Dira appeared like a princess, she moved effectively, but her strong vocal came out perfectly with a surprising ending in falsetto.
The night became more interesting when she sang a playful but spiritful Flores folk song called “Ie”. This song made the audiences moved slowly. Nano Tirta filled the solo section with his sopran sax. I’d say Dwiki and his orchestra has successfully brought Yogya audience into the spirit of universal world music.
Dwiki called Dewa Budjana again. He brought “Arafura”, an energic jazz fusion together with Eugene Bounty on alto saxophone. Massive staccatos were all over this song, especially when a very young drummer, Alsa, 16 year old gave a solo drum. She played it very crunchy and powerful!
Ivan Nestorman arrived and sang Happy Birthday in Flores language. He went back out stage to get his traditional instrument, Sasando. Sasando sounded slightly like harp. After introducing this instrument to the audiences, Ivan sang “Benggong Banggong” together with the heavy ensemble of World Peace Orchestra. This amazing singer who was born in Ruteng, Manggarai district in Flores is always known very committed to raise the Flores culture. He know specifically the kind of tropical beat from eastern to western Flores. “Benggong Banggong” is a twisting song, because it was blended with the typical Batak style plus some African beat. Ivan asked the audience to stand and clap their hands. The spirit of this song could really be felt through a very rich and harmonious sounds from various instruments.
The guest conductor, Singgih Sanjaya led the orchestra by presenting UGM Choir and some Balinese dancer from UKM Seni UGM. Series of folk songs were brought in medley, such as “Bungong Jeumpa”, “Janger”, “Gundul Gundul Pacul”, “Paris Barantai” and “Yamko Rambe Yamko”. Again, the audiences loved it!
As the night sailed on, “Spirit of Peace” successfully rised the crowds’ emotion. Steve Thornton, Anggito Abimanyu and Dewa Budjana took their parts on solo sections. Some Arabian nuance could be felt clearly in this one. To close the show, Krisdayanti sang a religious song “Zikir Tak Putus-Putusnya”.
That night World Peace Orchestra and the organizers donated their profit IDR 100 millions to the earthquake victims in West Sumatra. Dwiki also urged the audience to vote for comodo as a part of “Vote Comodo” campaign to be listed as “The World’s New Seven Wonders”. What a night it was! A very special performance by world class orchestra finally appeared in Yogyakarta. Best wishes from all of us to Dwiki Dharmawan, World Peace Orchestra, all the guest stars, UGM and everybody else behind this concert. Hope to see you again soon!
See more pictures:
Reporter: Bawien Lilaning Panggalih
Photographer: Sigit Kurniawan
Editor: Riandy Kurniawan
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[...] after the stunning concert of World Peace Orchestra at Gadjah Mada University in Jogjakarta, in which he presented Krisdayanti (KD) as a guest star along with many other surprising lineups, [...]