Suroto [Soeroto], Ki Anom

(b Juwiring, Klaten, Central Java, 11 Aug 1948). Javanese dhalang (shadow puppeteer) and composer. He was born into a family of performing artists and took an early interest in wayang kulit (Javanese shadow puppetry) and gamelan music, following and playing music for his puppeteer father, Ki Hardjodarsono, from the age of six. He performed his first all-night show at the age of 12 and began his professional career at 18. To supplement the training he received from his family he attended three wayang kulit schools: Himpunan Budaya Surakarta, Pawiyatan Karaton Surakarta and Habirandha (in Yogyakarta). In 1973 he made his first eight-hour wayang kulit commercial recording (Kakrasana Rabi, on the Lokananta label), followed by over 100 such recordings with five different companies during the next 15 years. One of the most acclaimed dhalang of his generation, he also composes pieces for Javanese gamelan, which are often featured in his wayang kulit performances. Though his most frequent engagements are in Jakarta and Central Java, he has performed all over Indonesia and internationally in Australia, Japan, Thailand, Egypt, the USA, the Netherlands, Britain and many other European countries. He has also frequently appeared on nationwide television broadcasts in Indonesia and is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Hadiah Seni (National Arts Award, Department of Education and Culture, 1995) and a Satya Lencana (Medal of Honour, from President Suharto, 1996), as well as awards from the Department of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications (1995), from the governor of Central Java (1996) and from the mayor of Surakarta (1993).

WORKS

(selective list)

all for Javanese gamelan

R. ANDERSON SUTTON