Enchanted the audience with a seamless blend of Javanese cultural harmony and the unforgettable beauty of orchestral music

The Yogyakarta Royal Orchestra (YRO) successfully held its grand concert titled "Kidung Pertiwi" on April 25 and 26, 2025, at the Jakarta Concert Hall, iNews Tower, Kebon Sirih. The concert received a warm welcome from the audience, who were mesmerized by the unique YRO orchestral performance that blended the artistic and cultural values of Yogyakarta with the beauty of music.

On the second day of the concert, YRO performed 11 repertoires similar to those showcased on the first day. Among the works performed were "Concerto Nusantara," "Lir Ilir Invention," as well as a special performance by the Yogyakarta Royal Choir, which sang a cappella songs. The beauty and richness of the melodies presented further captivated the audience, especially when the sounds of Cokekan in the song "Jenang Gula" merged with the musical harmony.

The concert was also attended by several prominent figures, including KPH Notonegoro, GKR Bendara, the Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia Widi Wardhana, and the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia Giring Ganesha. Their presence added to the excitement of the event, which was also attended by several public figures who enjoyed this extraordinary orchestral performance.

Bringing the Harmony of Javanese Culture

The "Kidung Pertiwi" concert took the audience on a journey through the beauty of Javanese cultural harmony. As the pride of the Yogyakarta Palace, YRO, under the auspices of Kawedanan Kridhamardawa, presented national struggle songs that stirred the spirit, as well as beautiful melodies from various regional songs.

What made YRO unique was that its members were abdi dalem (palace servants) of the Yogyakarta Palace. They had been professionally trained to play traditional Javanese musical instruments that are rich in artistic and historical value. With a vision to build harmony through noble musical traditions, YRO was committed to introducing and popularizing local music on the world stage. In fact, YRO had expanded its performances to Kuala Lumpur as part of its commitment to bringing the cultural richness of Java to the international arena.

Cultural and Historical Exhibition of the Yogyakarta Palace

In addition to the captivating orchestral performance, the concert also featured a contemporary exhibition showcasing various aspects of the Yogyakarta Palace's culture. This exhibition gave the audience the opportunity to learn more about and deepen their understanding of Yogyakarta's noble cultural heritage, enriching their experience with knowledge about the rich cultural traditions.

History and Development of YRO

The Yogyakarta Royal Orchestra was officially inaugurated by Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X on June 21, 2021, coinciding with World Music Day. Although relatively new, YRO was actually the metamorphosis of the former orchestra of the Yogyakarta Palace, Kraton Orcest Djogja (KOD), which was founded by Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono VIII around 1924.

With its experience and strong commitment to culture and the arts, YRO continued to strive to be a platform for the development of traditional music and Indonesian orchestras on the world stage.

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