(b Malang, Java, 9 June 1956). Indonesian composer. After studying the viola at the Indonesian Music Academy in Yogyakarta, in 1977 he began composition studies at the Jakarta Arts Institute. In the late 1970s and 80s Prabowo wrote much music for the theatre and dance, including Ten Minutes from Borobodur for the choreographer S.W. Kusumo and The Ritual of Solomon's Children for the theatre director W.S. Rendra. In the 1990s he worked regularly with American choreographers and theatre directors. Many of his compositions are for voices accompanied by percussion or mixed ensemble, often using texts by the poet Gunawan Mohammad. A Tale Before Sleeping (1992) for soprano and ensemble, frequently performed in Indonesia and abroad, employs Webernian serial techniques. In 1996 Prabowo formed the New Jakarta Ensemble, a percussion group composed entirely of traditional Minangkabau musicians who perform his post-serial compositions by memorizing them as they would when playing traditional music. Through this ensemble Prabowo has introduced Indonesian contemporary music to a wider audience both at home and abroad. He is one of the most prominent Indonesian composers of his generation.
For musical example see Indonesia, §VIII, 2, ex.4.
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