Mbah Daliyo - Javanese Gamelan Master Craftsman

 

As an instrument maker, Daliyo never afraid to be poor or compete with its rivals. For him, the fate of just resting on the will power. He just proved with perseverance, prayer and hard work. Because that's optimism, he was able to survive in a profession that had he lived more than half a century.

Starting from the wreck (salvage) of copper, brass, tin as well, which left the Netherlands in a sugar factory in dismantling in Beran, Sleman, this figure began the journey of his life. From childhood he was so sure that what's on his childish mind could menafkahinya later time. And it proved. Up to now, have trod 50 years he stayed with his profession. Number of half a century following ups and downs, he said, he lived with a sincere and candid. He was so confident, that perseverance, hard work and prayer, will bring gifts.

Daliyo Hadi Prayitno, the name of this figure. Turned 75 years old. He don't want to call a Masters (Empu - Indonesia gamelan and keris master), because he just plain instrument maker. "I am not a master. I'm just a businessman or Javanese gamelan maker, "he explained modestly. About his interest in this profession, he was blunt, "I was Mogol (pout) and quit school since 6th grade, because parents could not afford. Then I decided to make a gamelan, "he explained briefly about the particulars of his career. 
Really lucky, the trail was originally facilitated by the capitals heritage in the dismantling of existing sugar factory, now it was a district office Sleman. "The equipment, brass, wesi (iron), a tool o'clock, everyone was there. I live to wear it, "he said. If not for the legacy that will never be Daliyo instrument maker. He is well-versed because he ussualy work it, although the knowledge he gained only a self-taught, from the experience of experimenting. "I believe the gamelan can sustain life," he said with optimism.

Getok Tular or Word of Mouth
His seriousness he proved it by making the home, for shelter as well as be a place of business makes gamelan (besalen). In 1959 he decided to move, from Sleman to Bantul. A house, which he called "the house concerned" in the pelem Lor, Baturetno, Banguntapan, Bantul, Yogyakarta, in the end to witness his struggle with gamelan-making business until now. In front of house area of ​​almost a thousand meters was plastered billboards: "Companies Gamelan Daliyo." In the backyard looks a jeep and a truck that is used for job mobility.

Since his move, the order has come and go. The capital is only the trust that has been established from mouth to mouth customers (getok tular or word of mouth). Daliyo have a guarantee, that he could work on time, so that its customers happy. It is not easy to defend the profession and 50 years. "Spare no pains" that's the key to consistency Daliyo, the grandfather of 12 grandchildren. In his old age, the overlay thick glasses, he is still taking care of financial management company, which overshadow the 10 employees, which is comprised of handyman lamus (Handyman who helped blow the wind in order to obtain a temperature hot enough), carpenters alap , carpenters hammer, handyman scrape, and handyman sheen. In addition, the second son, Legiyan, also helping this effort.

When Gong visited her home in the sweltering afternoon, Daliyo were busy controlling the manufacture of 13 sets of gamelan that will be sent to Alor. Each set consists of 2 kempul, 3 bendhe, and 3 bonang. "This order is for ceremonial purposes in there," he explains. Several sets of gamelan are also apparently still ngonggrok (stored) in his house waiting behavior. He does not promote everywhere, except only with a simple business cards and getok tular or word of mouth was. In addition to the domestic order of the various islands in Indonesia, he also has served a variety of orders from abroad, like America, Australia, Malaysia, Japan, and others. When asked to name one by one, Daliyo've forgotten the name of the agency or individual details of ordering it.
  
Nrimo Ing Pandum (willingly accept what has been given)
Daliyo make three types of gamelan, with material iron, brass, and bronze. A complete set of brass gamelan price could reach about IDR 85 million. While the bronze gamelan, the price could reach at least IDR 160 million. "Because the process is more difficult and longer, until a year," he reasoned. Daliyo, who had been chairman of RT (Neighborhood) for nearly 20 years, not just rely on a complete gamelan set to be sold, but rather rely genjelan (instruments that are ordered separately).

Typically performed Daliyo gamelan making process in general. Starting from the wholesale of raw materials in the form of plate brass, copper, and tin; then njangka process (drawing) according to what will be created, burning, forging, pengerokan, nglaras (tuning), until penggilapan. To rancakannya, Daliyo use jackfruit tree materials, also teak wood.

This process could not be done separately. That is, make a gamelan is teamwork that takes patience, perseverance, and courage not to be allergic to fire and noise due to the deafening sound forging. The specialty of homemade gamelan Daliyo, said its customers, is because wutuhan (makes no connection) brass. For example, making Ageng Gong, which reached 1 meter in diameter size, he makes no connection. This makes the gong is not prone to rupture.

Daliyo not only makes gamelan pelog slendro only. He is flexible, and serves all kinds of gamelan tones. Once upon a time he made a gamelan set to campur sari (Kind of Music in Mid Java), which is tuned diatonic. "In this diatonic gamelan tuning process I use the keyboard," he said. That does not mean Daliyo does not have idealism as an instrument maker (Java). Is behind the gaze of the father of 4 children is just perseverance and tireless efforts to survive only. Daliyo not the one who ambition in response to Javanese culture and its philosophy. The principle of his life: nrimo ing pandum (willingly accept what has been given). If the trust came to him, he did according to what he could do, with all the blessings of God, his lord.

Of persistence, the spouse Mrs. Surip (late) that a waranggana (Singger named in mid Java - sing to the accompaniment of gamelan), received an award from the Regent of Bantul, Idham Samawi, for his participation to develop and preserve arts and culture through the effort of making gamelan. Award he received in 2005. According to his testimony, the award was earned because that is where one full swing (point of manufacture gamelan) the most "basic" (main).

Daliyo claim not as a merchant, just only thought of material gain. He made the gamelan without the need to pursue a business turnover and wearing a surefire strategy. "Fortune will come if we lean on God's destiny with hard work and prayer," he said memedar noble message. 

Daliyo also always run behavior is concerned, and always begged the Almighty, to be smooth in his quest through life. If he gets a fairly great fortune (large), once a year he organized the celebration, njereng kelir (show puppet), inviting neighbors and colleagues. According to him, he had a fortune that should be enjoyed also by others. 

Daliyo also have a principle, that all the fortune and things just belong gadoan (deposit) of God. "Soon all will come back to him," he said.