Yogyakarta The Ethnomusicology Study Program, Faculty of Performing Arts, ISI Yogyakarta, once again demonstrates its contribution to large-scale performing arts productions through the involvement of lecturers and students in musical theater performances. Mahespati Sangkara which was held on Friday, September 27, 2024, at the ISI Yogyakarta Art Laboratory.
Mahespati Sangkara is the concluding part of the Dwipantara performance trilogy, following the presentation of the play Good luck and Ambarasta. The three works raise metaphorical narratives about the journey of the Indonesian nation, starting from the challenges of maintaining unity, the importance of fostering a spirit of national defense, to the struggle to maintain independence and sovereignty in the midst of various threats from both outside and within the country.
In the story of Mahespati Sangkara, the character Aruta is depicted as a young man who strives to defend the right to independence and emphasizes the importance of vigilance against various forms of threats that can damage national and state life. Through a musical theater approach that combines acting, dance, music, puppetry, animation, and interactive visual technology, this performance offers an immersive artistic experience that is also rich in nationalistic messages for the younger generation.
This collaborative production involving 296 lecturers and students from various study programs at the Faculty of Performing Arts, ISI Yogyakarta, provides a space for each artistic discipline to contribute according to their expertise. In this context, the Ethnomusicology Study Program plays an important role, especially in the musicality aspects of the performance.
The contribution of the Ethnomusicology Study Program is seen through its involvement Warsana, M.Sn., a lecturer in Ethnomusicology at ISI Yogyakarta, who is trusted as the Musical Arranger for Mahespati Sangkara.. In his role, Warsana is responsible for designing the musical concept, composing the accompaniment structure, and directing the musical presentation to align with the dramatic needs of the performance. The musical works presented not only function as accompaniment to the scenes but also become narrative elements that strengthen characters, build atmosphere, and convey the emotions and messages contained in each part of the story.
Besides the contributions of the lecturers, Ethnomusicology students are also actively involved as musicians in performances. Their presence is an important part of bringing the overall musical presentation to life through playing various instruments that support the storytelling. Through the process from practice to performance, students gain hands-on experience working in a multidisciplinary performing arts production that demands musical ability, work discipline, communication, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
The involvement of ethnomusicology lecturers and students in Mahespati Sangkara demonstrates how the competencies developed in the Ethnomusicology Study Program are not only oriented towards academic study and music-culture research, but are also applicable in innovative and collaborative performing arts creation practices. This experience provides an important learning space for students to understand the entire performance production process, from artistic design to on-stage presentation of the work.
Participation in Mahespati Sangkara is also a tangible contribution of the Ethnomusicology Study Program at ISI Yogyakarta in supporting the development of the performing arts ecosystem on campus. Through inter-departmental collaboration, Ethnomusicology not only serves as a supporter of the performance's musicality but also as part of the creative process that enriches the overall artistic quality of the work.
This involvement reaffirms the Ethnomusicology Study Program at ISI Yogyakarta's commitment to continuously encourage lecturers and students to actively participate in various art creation activities, while also demonstrating the strategic role of ethnomusicology in bridging tradition, creativity, and innovation in contemporary performing arts.
