My speech at the World Culture Forum 2016, Bali

Since the video of our performance at the closing of the World Culture Forum 2016 in Bali (which has now turned to be the most viewed video from all events recorded on youtube from the WCF 2016) my speech has been circulating around too. Here is the link to that video, and I post the transcript of my speech below it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_2fxlD2XGw ............................................................................................................................................ His Excelencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, ............................................................................................................................................ If you google "classical music is", google will automatically continue with their three most searched words: "dying" , "for snobs" and "boring". This may be the most 3 top searched words in Europe or the USA, but let's check the facts. For example, I am sure you all know the town Salzburg or the country Finlandia. Now, what automatically connect with those two names? The first would be Mozart, and the second Sibelius. Two icons of classical music separated 100 years apart. Their names are used for chocolates and also a beautiful park with Sibelius monument in Helsinki. Now THAT'S the power of classical music. I believe if a country is a shop, its artistic product is the shop window. Mention Florence and we immediately think of the great paintings, mention Barcelona and we think of its buildings by the architect Antoni Gaudi. ............................................................................................................................................ Sometimes art looks as if it is cheap, and we even give it for free, as we can see and listen now through social media. But we all know, when a product is free, then the consumer IS the product. Art is one of the most powerful means to introduce our country to the outside world. A way to attract tourists and investors, if we want to connect it economically, but also simply it is a way to make friends and diplomatic relationships. ............................................................................................................................................ I believe that music is a universal language because it can connect to our emotions directly, bypassing the mind almost entirely. Also, the inherent mathematical structure of music can easily cross cultural barriers as well. But things are not so simple. ............................................................................................................................................ Music as a medium of expression is universal the same way spoken language as a medium of communication is universal. Just like languages which vary from similar dialects to virtually mutually unintelligible languages, music of various cultures and various styles are not readily accessible and understood by everybody. Also cultural conditioning and assimilation is essential if someone wants to speak an accent-free language as a native or like a native. The same goes with music. The so called Western classical music is only a form of music. It is now widespread in the world thanks to centuries of western colonization and modern media. I, as a musician deeply rooted in the western tradition, can often hear a foreign "accent" when western classical music is performed by musicians who come from countries far removed from the west, or western performers no longer in touch with the traditional styles of performance. It is neither a bad thing nor a good thing per se. It's like listening to CNN international where almost every reporter has a foreign accent. Is it noticeable? Yes! Is it distracting? Not really! But of course, the best reporter is one talking and expressing in his own mother tongue. ............................................................................................................................................ In any case, music is like a foreign language. You need to learn the notes like you learn the alphabet. Then you study the grammar, and then try to speak it or write in it. If you want to learn a new language you have to start from scratch again. The same with music. In order to sit through a 3-hour long Italian as well as Chinese opera, and to truly enjoy it, an open disposition won't be enough. You will need to know much about the style and culture. And to give a believable performance of it, you need much more than that. You need to have fully assimilated the Chinese culture and language. Otherwise, your performance will always have that foreign accent which on this particular case may distract the listener. And that is why Indonesian musicians need Indonesian classical music in order to present ourselves in the international forum. We can't compete with those international musicians performing Mozart and Beethoven, our "foreign accent" will always be revealed. We perform the best music of our heritage, although using western instruments and even western techniques. ............................................................................................................................................ Indonesian classical music does not really exist, because we have great diversity of ethnic cultures. Or shall I rephrase it: Indonesian classical music exists BECAUSE of our diversity. That's why it's so difficult to pinpoint how Indonesian classical music sounds, since an influence from a Sumatran ethnic music could be so different than one influenced by ethnic music of, say, Java or Bali. But in the end it is the composer's identity and particular character that produces music that is characteristically Indonesian. ............................................................................................................................................ Indonesia has started establishing its identity in classical music, and this is what our orchestra is presenting to you today. The orchestra consist of the best musicians from all over the country. The musicians come from the islands of Sulawesi, Sumatra and Java. First we all rehearsed in Jakarta and 3 days ago we all flew to Bali together and come to this forum. We hope you enjoy our performance, and thank you.