(b Yogyakarta, Java, 17 March 1909). Javanese gamelan musician and composer. He grew up in the Pakualaman court, where his father was gamelan musical director. Outside the court, Wasitodiningrat (known then as Tjokrowasito) performed with several famous gamelan groups, including Daya Pradangga, and in 1934 became gamelan musical director at the radio station MAVRO (Mataramsche Vereeniging Radio Omroep). He continued in this position during the Japanese occupation of Indonesia (1942–5) at Radio Hosokyoku gamelan and, after Indonesian independence, at the national radio station (Radio Republik Indonesia) in Yogyakarta. In 1962 he succeeded his father as gamelan musical director at the Pakualaman, and in 1964–5 led the Javanese gamelan musicians at the Indonesian Pavilion of the New York World's Fair. During the 1960s, Wasitodiningrat composed music for a new genre, the sendratari dance-drama, including the first performances held at the Lara Jonggrang temple complex in Prambanan. He taught at Konservatori Tari Indonesia (KONRI) and Akademi Seni Tari Indonesia (ASTI) and founded his own school for the study of vocal music (Pusat Olah Vokal Wasitodipuro). He also collaborated with choreographer Bagong Kussudiardjo and composed numerous light gamelan pieces (lagu dolanan) and experimental works (kreasi baru), many of which have become staples of the gamelan repertory. In 1971 he moved to Valencia, California, where he taught at the California Institute of the Arts until his retirement and return to Yogyakarta in 1992. While based in Valencia, he taught at a number of colleges and universities in California, and elsewhere in the USA and Canada.
WORKS
(selective list)
extended works
Jaya Manggala Gita, 1952
musical arrangements for sendratari dance-dramas
Alleluyah; Arjuna Wiwaha; Bandung Bandawasa; Calonarang; Damar Wulan; Dewi Saraswati; Diponegoro; Hamlet; Kelahiran dan Kebangitan Kristus; Mangkubumi; Menuntut Balas; Nyai Ratu Kidul/Loro Kidul; Pangéran Mangkubumi; Ramayana ‘Rara Jonggrang’; Samgita Nusantara; Samgita Pancasona; Sri Tanjung; Sumpah Palapa
