Rahayu Supanggah
Born in Java in 1949 into a family of master puppeteers, renowned musician and composer Rahayu Supanggah has become one of Indonesia’s most prolific artists working in the field of gamelan music and culture. He also enjoys an international reputation as a pioneering academic and collaborator in this field.
Supanggah began his studies at the traditional Arts Academy (ASKI/STSI) in Surakarta and at the young age of 16, was selected to represent Indonesia in an important cultural mission to Japan, China and Korea. In 1985, Supanggah graduated with a Ph.D in ethnomusicology from the University of Paris and subsequently joined the teaching staff at STSI, Surakarta, teaching ethnomusicology, composition and aesthetics. He was appointed rector of STSI between 1997 and 2002, and continues to coordinate post-graduate studies there. Over the years, Supanggah has lectured in the USA, Holland, France, Switzerland and Britain and has published many influential articles on gamelan music and theory. His latest book, Bothekan Karawitan, was published in 2002.
In addition to his academic achievements, Supanggah has collaborated internationally in varied roles as composer, performer, advisor and Artistic Director with many leading artists. A strong interest in cultural exchange has driven many of his collaborative works including ‘Mahabarata’ with Peter Brook (1994), ‘Lear’ with Ong Ken Sen (1995) and 'I La Galigo’ with Robert Wilson (2004). More recently, Supanggah has collaborated with Canadian choreographer Andre Gingras on his dance work ‘Losing the Form in Darkness’ as well as writing the music and performing in the Indonesian film ‘Opera Jawa’ directed by Garin Nugroho, which won the SACEM Prize for best soundtrack and musical creation at the 28th Festival des 3 Continents in Nantes, 2006.
In May 2007, Southbank Centre appointed Supanggah as Artist in Residence for three years to assist with performances and the development of the gamelan programme. Since then, Supanggah has worked very closely with the Southbank Gamelan Players and performed with gamelan groups from around the UK during June 2007 to celebrate the reopening of the Royal Festival Hall. In September 2007, Supanggah returned to Southbank Centre to perform music from the score of Opera Jawa at the BFI Southbank, host a symposium discussing the role of gamelan in the UK and Europe, and direct the music for an all-night Shadow-play performed on The Clore Ballroom with leading Javanese puppet-master Ki Purbo Asmoro.
In addition to his work as Southbank Centre Artist in Residence, Supanggah is currently collaborating on a composition for the Kronos Quartet.
Rahayu Supanggah is a Southbank Centre Artist in Residence supported by Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
