Gamelan Music of West Java
Harepan
Pusaka Sunda featuring:
Burhan Sukarma, Dede Suparman, Yusdiana, and Ani Sukmawati
Year released: 2023 Sakti
About
Harepan (Hope) Tembang Sunda and Kacapi Suling Music of West Java features six new vocal compositions written by Pusaka Sunda director Burhan Sukarma and performed with renowned Bandung musicians, Ani Sukmawati, Dede Suparman, and Yusdiana.
Over the past 5 years, Burhan Sukarma has been documenting his Tembang Sunda and Gamelan Degung compositions on recordings. Harepan (Hope) Tembang Sunda and Kacapi Suling Music of West Java is the fourth such recording and like the 2022 release Utama, Burhan is joined by renowned Bandung, West Java musicians, Ani Sukmawati, Dede Suparman, and Yusdiana.
The Pieces
On Harepan, Ani’s emotional, melismatic vocals embody the soul of Tembang Sunda music, the revered song poetry of West Java. Burhan’s new vocal compositions were written for and during Pusaka Sunda’s Spring 2023 tour when the group was joined by Ani Sukmawati and Yusdiana in their first tour to the United States. The pieces Kahayang (Desire) and Ngabungbang (Enjoying the Full Moon) were premiered at the tour concerts. During the tour visit, Burhan presented four additional Tembang Sunda songs to the guest artists, including the title medley Sok Hayang – Harepan (Yearning for Hope), Lawas (Everlasting), and Ari Tepang (Accidental Meeting). The trio of musicians, joined by Dede Suparman, continued to work on the music in West Java and recorded during September 2023.
While in the studio, the instrumentalists took the opportunity to also record several Kacapi Suling medleys. Degung Mangu, Kawitan Degung and Gunung Sari feature Yusdiana’s powerful and expressive touch on the kacapi. Each of these songs leads directly into a metered song where Burhan’s improvisational virtuosity is allowed to flourish.
The songs on Harapan display multiple Sundanese tunings including Pelog, Sorog, Mandalungan, and Pelog Kobongan.
The Performers
Burhan Sukarma has a 50-year career as a prolific recording artist, composer, and performer. He is a profound improvisor whose soulful expressive melodic lines speak across cultural boundaries. As a performer on hundreds of traditional and contemporary recordings, his suling playing has influenced countless performers and built his reputation as one of the most influential Sundanese musicians of his generation. Burhan has taught, recorded, and performed throughout the world and directed the group Pusaka Sunda for the past 35 years.
With remarkable success, Burhan continues to be involved in expanding the repertory of the Gamelan Degung and Tembang Sunda genres of music. His latest compositions are featured on the recently released recordings, Ningnang, Utama, and the current album Harepan.
Ani Sukmawati is recognized as one of the most sought-after vocalists in West Java over the past 25 years. Her vocal range includes performances and recordings in the multiple musical genres of Tembang Sunda, Kawih, Gending Karesmen and Gamelan Degung. She has won many of the prestigious vocal competitions that are held annually throughout West Java. Many of Ani’s vocal performances are available on YouTube where she has hundreds of thousands of views from around the world. As a recording artist, she is featured on nine albums released in Indonesia. Harepan, her second U.S. album with Pusaka Sunda follows the 2022 album, Utama. Ani is frequently a featured vocalist in music festivals and national events, also performing regularly on TVRI (TV Republic Indonesia) Bandung and Radio Republic Indonesia.
Ani has toured internationally to festivals in France, Norway, and the Netherlands. In 2023, she joined Pusaka Sunda for her first tour of the United States.
Yusdiana is an award-winning virtuoso on the kacapi and gamelan degung instruments. He has collaborated and recorded with many of the leading musicians and vocalists of his generation in West Java. As a recording artist, he is featured on ten albums released in Indonesia. Harepan, his second U.S. album with Pusaka Sunda follows the 2022 album, Utama. Yusdiana is a first call musician for music festivals and national events, also performing frequently on TVRI (TV Republic Indonesia) Bandung and Radio Republic Indonesia.
Yusdiana has gained an international reputation through his performances world-wide including tours to France, Malaysia, Taiwan, India, the Netherlands, and Belgium. In 2023, he joined Pusaka Sunda for his first tour of the United States.
Dede Suparman has been the ‘first call’ kacapi rincik player in West Java for the past 40 years. During those years he also performed for millions of listeners as a principal musician at Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) Bandung. Dede is featured on hundreds of Tembang Sunda and Kacapi-Suling recordings. Harepan, his second U.S. album with Pusaka Sunda follows the 2022 recording, Utama. The consistency and subtle creativity of his playing superbly defines the role of the kacapi rincik.
Dede’s many international tours have introduced his mastery to a worldwide audience. He continues to perform throughout West Java.
Credits
Recorded at ISBI Studio, Bandung, Indonesia
Recorded September 2023
Director – Burhan Sukarma
Producer – Rae Ann Stahl
Sound and Mixing Engineer – Abuy Budiyana
Mastering Engineer – Brama Sukarma
Design – Gretchen McPherson
Recorded September 2023
Director – Burhan Sukarma
Producer – Rae Ann Stahl
Sound and Mixing Engineer – Abuy Budiyana
Mastering Engineer – Brama Sukarma
Design – Gretchen McPherson