W

hen a hobby turns into a passion, no one can stop you — not even underestimating comments or financial restrictions.

Harry Palmer is a Betawi person who has made every possible effort to preserve traditional music in the capital city. The 65-year-old man talked enthusiastically about his effort to reintroduce the Betawi traditional music of gambang kromong to the young generation.

Eight years ago, the man, who was born as Herry Sunandar, established Harry’s Palmer Orchestra, offering a combination of traditional keroncong, gambang kromong and Betawi pop music.

His interest in Betawi traditional music started when he was a kid. His grandmother Phang Owan was the charismatic leader of a lenong (Betawi comedy group) in Tangerang, Banten.

“The lenong was ruined after she died. I want to preserve the music,” he said.

The chance to give his attention to his musical passion came when he led a church choir of 80 elderly people. He chose keroncong music because it matched the voices of the choir’s singers. However, keroncong sounded too slow for him, so he tried to make use of his parents’ gambang kromong instrument and started recruiting musicians who had mastered it.

Harry got a good feeling with the combination of the slow keroncong and the quick rhythm of gambang kromong, but he did not stop there. He later added four brass instruments, drums and an electric bass as a final touch. To date, his music group comprises 18 musicians 18 instruments, five singers, five Betawi dancers and some men who are in charge of a serious sound system.

“I put them together to get lively music. The most important thing for me is to attract the attention of youngsters and encourage them to love this music,” he said.

He started his music group with good intentions, but got sour response from people who were accustomed to modern music.

He did not back down. He observed music bands playing in wedding parties and found flaws in many performances. The main reason, he said, was because they were not ensembles that regularly practiced together.

Starting in 2007, his music group practiced twice a week, regardless of job demands. He hires the musicians on a permanent basis and asks singers to always be available when the group gets a contract.

His strategy when his music group performs in public is to present local and western pop music first before inserting Betawi songs, such as Benyamin Sueb’s “Hujan Gerimis” (Drizzle). By doing so, he hopes youngsters will at least get a glimpse of traditional music and start loving it. “So far, my strategy works well. My children, for example, now enjoy listening to gambang kromong,” he said.

During the past four years, his music group has been playing in on Gebyar Keroncong, an occasional program on TVRI. Harry said the real turning point for his music group was when he managed to persuade a staff member of Taman Anggrek mall to watch their performance in the TV station.

Their show mesmerized the staff member and the mall invited them to play during Chinese New Year’s celebrations. Since they played in the public, more invitations have come from people who adore their music.

 “It’s astonishing that malls rarely invite us during Jakarta’s anniversary or Independence Day. They are too commercial,” he said.

His group of 35 people and a 10,000-watt sound system cost Rp 15 million (US$1,634) to Rp 20 million to rent. That amount of money, he said, was just enough to cover the operational costs and the artists’ fees.

Musicians in his group dress up in elegant suits, bowties and a hats, showing that they have style. It is actually Harry’s fashion touch as a wedding suit designer.

“This is not a profitable business. I just try to preserve the music. If I try to earn a living from this group, I may go bankrupt,” he said.

— Indah Setiawati