Existence of Orchestral Music Group in Java: since the Dutch East Indies to the Post-Independence (1950)

As one of the centers of Javanese culture, Yogyakarta has a variety of artistic activities. Various activities have occurred for a few Centuries ago and have developed. Forms of development can be manifested in various types of art, especially in performing arts such as wayang kulit, wayang wong, classical dance, musical, literary arts, and western music orchestras. This article presents historical data on the existence of orchestral music groups in Java, especially in Yogyakarta. The purpose of this paper is to trace back the traces of the history of European musical activities that have occurred in Yogyakarta since the time of the Dutch East Indies to the Post-Independence 1950s. There are three play groups of Western music orchestras Discussed in this article related to the musical culture in Yogyakarta that existed in the past. The presence of the Western orchestra music group in Yogyakarta is one of the Successes of a process of dissemination of European music in Yogyakarta that has been going on for a long time before the independence of the Republic of Indonesia. Also, this was supported by the presence of foreign musicians who held concerts in the Indies as well as the role of private music teachers, music education institutions such as seminaries, and shops selling music instrument.