Sundanese music conservationist from England named Simon Cook

 

Sundanese music conservationist from England named Simon Cook

Indonesian people who are actively following developments in the art world, especially traditional music, must still remember the figure of Pete Smith, a man from England who has a love for Javanese gamelan, and spent about 20 years of his life studying as well as being a teacher and conservationist of the arts both in Indonesia and abroad origin.

Not much different from Smith, a similar amazing story is also shared by a foreigner who has an equally great love for Indonesian arts and culture, namely Simon Cook. If Smith is more inclined to play Javanese gamelan, Simon is more inclined to Sundanese gamelan. Other than that, Simon is not only pursuing his music, but it can be said that Simon has become a part of Sundanese culture itself because he has studied and loves various things, from language to traditional food, which are closely related to his daily life.

How did Simon get to have a deep interest in Sundanese arts and culture in the first place?Before getting to know gamelan, it is known that Simon used to be a music teacher who really likes to explore various types of unique musical instruments that are rarely played in public, such as the theremin, claviola, melodica, and zanzithophone. In fact, Simon's introduction to gamelan instruments began with Javanese gamelan in 1979. While studying in Yogyakarta, he met a gamelan figure named Sri Hastanto--who is now dead--, and was advised to study traditional music from other regions. Captivated by music that is still similar, Simon was then interested in the Sundanese gamelan which has the characteristics of a harp and flute. Finally, after spending about two and a half years in Yogyakarta, he moved to Bandung and studied Sundanese gamelan in the Flower City.

While studying Sundanese gamelan, Simon is known to have learned directly from experts or masters who are now dead, some of whom are Uking Sukri and Entis Sutisna. "Many of my teachers are gone. When I went to Bandung in the early 1990s, I was looking for masters who are now dead," said Simon. Wanting to seriously study Sundanese arts, Simon is known to have studied directly at the Indonesian Cultural Arts Institute (ISBI) Bandung, which was formerly known as the Indonesian College of Arts (STSI).

Thanks to this opportunity, he has many relationships from among art activists who are also known as teachers to native Sundanese singers, one of which is a lecturer and Head of the Karawitan Department of ISBI Bandung, Lili Suparli.

"He is very proficient in Sundanese gamelan, especially gamelan gamelan and other gamelan, also plays the flute very well, moreover he can also play the rebab, he can play the rebab too, right, the rebab is categorized as waditra or an instrument that can be said to be quite difficult, but he is able to play it. that as an Englishman…” said Lili. According to the same source, another college friend at ISBI, Hendrawati Ashworth, admitted that if you look closely at Simon's skill in mastering Sundanese gamelan music, it is considered that Sundanese people are ashamed of themselves because they do not have Simon's abilities.

"When Mr. Simon plays Sundanese music, judging by his skills in playing Sundanese music like the original Sundanese, even the original Sundanese are not necessarily good at playing Sundanese music," said Hendrawati.

After returning to England, Simon is now known to have made various efforts to introduce and preserve various things about Sundanese culture including gamelan instruments to his hometown. He and his friends consisting of researchers, lecturers, and gamelan musicians are known to have founded the Sekar Enggal Gamelan group in England, and regularly practice gamelan at least twice a week during the pandemic for the last two years. "I am very much concerned about Sundanese culture in England (I am very happy to be able to continue Sundanese culture in England)," said Simon.

In addition, Simon is also known to teach gamelan at the international schools Bracknel Cultural Center and Royal Holloway, University of London. His knowledge of Sundanese music has also been put into a book which is now a reference for many ethnomusicologists in England.Apart from his love for Sundanese culture which is not only aimed at gamelan, but also other parts such as language and traditional food, apparently this can be said to be ingrained because he has a life partner who is originally from Sundanese. The wife, who is known to be familiarly called Ceu Oom, actually admitted that she was not getting better at mastering English even though she had lived there for a long time, this was because Simon was more accustomed to speaking Sundanese while at home.

Meanwhile, when it comes to things that cannot be forgotten while living in Indonesia, especially Bandung, Simon admits that he really likes Sundanese vegetables. "Just look at my big belly like this, it must be (because of) food, not my heart but my stomach," he joked while laughing. Even though he has studied Sundanese gamelan music for more than 10 years, Simon still feels that he has very little knowledge. But going forward, he admits that he will continue to pursue what he is currently living.

"Hopefully many will be happy and willing to learn Sundanese arts. Hopefully it will be continued (preserved),” concluded Simon.