Indonesian musicians complete Wellington residency
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Indonesian musicians Irwansyah Harahap and Rithaony Hutajulu have just concluded a three-month stay in Wellington as recipients of the WARE artist residency programme, an initiative of the Wellington City Council and the Asia New Zealand Foundation to bring Asian artists to Wellington to work with local artists and arts organisations. 
This is the second time the couple have been in Wellington – the first was in 2007 when they brough the Sigalegale Puppet Troupe and their own Suarasama ensemble of Northern Sumatran musicians to the Asia Pacific Festival. “That was a busy ten days” says Irwansyah, “since we had performances almost every day, and presented papers at the conference too. We liked what we saw of Wellington, but hardly had a chance to look around!”
Both Ritha and Irwan are on the teaching staff at the Ethnomusicology Department of University of North Sumatra (USU) in Medan and hold masters degrees in Ethnomusicology from the University of Washington, Seattle USA. In addition to this, Ritha is an accomplished vocalist, singing a wide variety of world music styles, and Irwan plays Gambus (Malay seven string lute), Hasapi (Toba Batak two-stringed plucked lute), and an instrument of his own invention, the Saz-guitar.
Their Wellington residency, with their daughter Niesya attending a Wellington school, has provided a real opportunity for the whole family to integrate into the community. Living here for three months has given them a chance to interact with New Zealand music and musicians, attending a wide variety of concerts and performing for the Indonesian and Muslim communities. They have been busy at Victoria University, too, presenting papers in ethnomusicology and composition, as well as working with musicians at the New Zealand School of Music and preparing for their concerts, which were held at Te Papa (15 November) and at the university on 30 November.
This final concert featured Irwan and Ritha with the New Zealand School of Music gamelan orchestra and numerous other musicians that they have met during their visit, showcased the diverse and rich exchange of cultural styles that have become the hallmark of their eclectic style. Irwansyah remarked upon a willingness in New Zealand to share musical ideas and to play with musicians of other cultures, going much deeper than the scientific impartiality required of ethnomusicological study that he has encountered in some other countries.
Both hope to return to New Zealand in the future – preferably during the Summer months, when the weather is a bit more like home.
- by Carol Shortis
