K. P. H. Notoprojo

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K.P.H. Notoprojo (also known as Tjokrowasito, Wasitodipuro, Wasitodiningrat, and other names; b. 1904) is one of the most highly respected performers of Javanese gamelan. He led the Paku Alaman palace gamelan as well as the gamelan for the Radio Republik Indonesia Yogyakarta, and taught gamelan in universities around the world. He is also a noted composer and rebab performer.

On March 9, 2004, he received the Nugraha Bhakti Musik Indonesia Award.

1 Name
2 Life
3 Legacy
4 Recordings
- 4.1 As performer/director
- 4.2 Compositions
5 Writings
6 Footnotes
7 External links

[edit] Name

He has gone by a large number of names, corresponding to different honors he has received. He was born Tjokrowasito (Cokrowasito in the new orthography), and is known as Pak Tjokro (Cokro). As he became proficient, his peers called him Ki Tjokrowasito (Ki is an unofficial title of respect). In the 1960s, the Paku Alaman court named him K.R.T. Wasitodipuro (K.R.T. = Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung). Later, he was honored as K.R.T. Wasitodiningrat. In 2001 he was recognized officially as the natural son of Paku Alam VII, and half-brother of Paku Alam VIII, and earned a title similar to a prince: K.P.H. Notoprojo (K.P.H. = Kandeng Pangeran Haryo).

[edit] Life

He was born in Yogyakarta, Java. He began studying gamelan at age five from his legal father, R.W. Padmowinangum, who led the Pura Pakualaman gamelan, a position that he would eventually take over himself.

His formal education was at Taman Siswa secondary school, enriched by studies at the palace. The musical style of the Pura Pakualaman had traditional shared elements of both the Yogyakarta Sultan's palace, and, influence by intermarriage, with the Sunan's palace in Solo (Surakarta). Notoprojo, following extended residencies in Solo, furthered this process, perhaps to the point in which the style of the Pura Pakualaman could be heard as largely Solonese in character. In addition to his position at the palace, he was also music director at RRI Yogyakarta and leadership of the radio gamelan continues to reflect his musical sensibilities. He founded his own group and gave numerous performances and participated in discussions and conferences about gamelan. Later he taught at ASTI.

He had the opportunity to teach karawitan abroad beginning in 1953, and worked in several countries. He taught at the California Institute of the Arts from 1971 to 1992, as well as at U.C. Berkeley, San Jose State, and many other universities in the US and Canada. He retired to Indonesia in 1997. His home is both a residence for young artists, and a site of regular performances and gatherings of some of Java's best gamelan artists.

[edit] Legacy

He has composed more than 200 pieces for gamelan. He revived several moribund or extinct art forms from Yogyakarta history, including wayang gedhog. Scores of his works, as well as a two-volume set of his notation for vocal music, are published by the American Gamelan Institute.

He was instrumental in spreading the appreciation and knowledge of Javanese gamelan around the world. According to Mantle Hood, "It is accepted that no other Indonesian has even approached the contributions of this man in helping the world know the great gamelan traditions of Java."^[1]