Remembering Pak Hardja Susilo (a view from the gamelan room)

by Byron Moon
I first heard the sound of gamelan in the early 1970s, at a UH Music Department concert directed by Pak Sus. Speaking with him after the concert, he invited me to enroll in his beginning
gamelan course the following semester. On the first day of class, he asked me to sit at the bonang,
observing that your arms are long enough to reach all the kettles. Obviously, we didnt know
what we were getting ourselves into. Four decades later, I am still playing gamelan, and can
confirm that he changed my life for the better. Whether leading reahearsals, teaching individual
gamelan and dance lessons, or reminiscing about life in Java, Pak Sus always created a special
atmosphere around whatever he had to say. In his gentle way, he inspired me, and many other
students, to learn more about gamelan music and Javanese culture. We never knew when a gem
of information would appear (playing gamelan, there are many ways to be correct). Sometimes the
information held a surprise (if you attend a Javanese theater performance expecting to see puppets,
but instead you see dancers, you know you are at the wong wayang). Others will recall different
stories, but most will agree their lives were changed because of him.
Pak Sus found ways to include anyone who showed an interest in gamelan or dance. He was
very generous with his time, spending countless hours giving free lessons to students ready to
progress. Even those with little or no background could find a place, perhaps playing the single
pitched kethuk, or cast to dance the role of a cloud in one of his many dance drama productions,
tasked only with flying in and out of the scene. In an interview, he revealed another idea when
he said the goal of studying gamelan was not only to become a better musician, but to become a
better person. Pak Sus helped direct his students toward that goal, whether they pursued careers
in ethnomusicology, the arts, or on other paths.
During his later years, even though his body weakened, Pak Sus spirit remained strong, and he
continued to share that spirit through his guidance, humor, creativity, and generosity. We will
miss our teacher, mentor, and friend. Playing gamelan wont be the same without him, but his
spirit will live on in his students.
Aloha Pak Sus. Thank you for changing our lives.