UPDATEThe Chirgilchin World Music Concert schedule for Sat. Oct. 17 has been cancelled.

The World Music Concert series at Sacramento State feature a variety of music from different countries. At Saturday night’s performance, I had the opportunity to listen to Pusaka Sunda, artists of West Java, Indonesia.

The lights were shining brightly on the stage in Capistrano’s Music Recital Hall, as the audience waited anxiously for Saturday night’s performance of Pusaka Sunda, artists of West Java, Indonesia.

As I sat front and center, my eyes were glued to nine beautiful maroon instruments that appeared to be radiating from the stage.

The ensemble of 10 finally entered the stage and the audience was quickly taken on a musical journey with them.

As the group began their first piece “Lengser Midang,” I immediately noticed that each musician in Pusaka Sunda playing his or her own specific instrument.

One musicians set the beat with the jengglong, a set of small hanging bronze gongs, while another sporadically hit the goong, a large hanging bronze gong that makes a deep rippling sound when hit.

Another member of the group played on a panerus, which looks like a large xylophone.

There are two instruments that are considered modern instruments to Indonesians and they are the cempres and two sarons, both of which are variations of metallophones. A metallophone looks much like a xylophone.

All 10 members had their own pattern of notes that at times they repeated over and over for as long as 20 minutes. Together, the musicians created a sound that made me feel like I was on some sort of magical journey with them that I didn’t want to have end.

The music made me feel as if I was listening to the soundtrack of “The Secret Garden” because it made me feel enchanted as I once did when I was 13 years old.

The second piece the group performed had some singing in it for the first time. “Ladrak – Reumbeuy Bandung” featured two women, Laura McColm and Danni Redding Lapuz along with the rest of Pusaka Sundra.

The singing was oddly faint throughout the song which I found a bit strange because I was expecting something overpowering and strong, but as I closed my eyes and listened closer, it was clear their intention was not to overpower the rest of the music but to blend in with it.

At times, the music would fade and the only sound that could be heard was the singing along with the accompaniment of one other instrument, which made me feel as thought the ensemble was setting a mood in the song. After a few moments, this music faded back into the chorus and the rest of the group performed together again.

Sujatmi Yudhoyono, freshman music major, said she liked the group’s distinct sound.

“It helps me remember my culture and plus, there aren’t many 10-piece bands that can make me feel like I’ve been taken someplace far away the way Pusaka can,” Yudhoyono said.

The third piece called “Gawil” was my favorite performance of the night, mainly because of the Indonesian dancing.

Margot Lederer Prado, the Pusaka Sunda dancer, wore purple and yellow scarves and a maroon vest with gold-embroidered detail. Prado danced with meaning and vigor in many circular and sometimes robotic motions while the ensemble carried on with their powerful performance.

Budi Wahid, undeclared freshman, said his heart skipped a beat during the third performance.

“(Prado’s) dancing was astounding to me. It’s a lot harder than people think to move your feet in zigzag motions while having your arms and hands moving in circular motions while still maintaining the unique beat of the group,” Wahid said. “They make me proud to be Indonesian.”

I also observed non-Indonesians enjoying the group’s distinct and oftentimes meditative sound.

Toward the end of the concert, I noticed a daughter in her mother’s lap. Both of their eyes were closed as they swayed back and forth in a chair, letting the music consume them.

Longtime Gamalan Degung player, Daniel Kelley, said he loves the togetherness of the group when he performs with them.

“For me, my favorite thing is the feeling of a group playing together and because everyone works from a skeleton,” Kelley said. “Everyone sort of expresses that skeleton in their own way, and then it all comes together in the performance.” Kelley said his favorite piece to perform is “Bulan Sapasi” because of its beautiful vocal melody. After the concert, fans stayed around to marvel at the instruments, ask questions, and ask for autographs from the members of the group. Muhammad Suparman, an elementary school teacher, said the concert couldn’t have come at a better time. “When life stresses me out and I need to just let go and not think about anything I try and find concerts that will play my native music because it calms me,” Suparman said. “Then coming here and seeing how relaxing it is for non-Indonesian’s is fascinating.” Romy Gabriella, junior Spanish major, said she decided to go to the show because midterms are coming up and she needed a way to de-stress. “Meditative music helps me not freak out come test time, and I knew if I came tonight that I would be relaxed and ready for midterms,” Gabriella said. “Sure enough it worked.”

Amber Wertman can be reached at [email protected]