Children's and Youth Musical Karawitan Festival

Karawitan art is a traditional Javanese musical art form originating from Indonesia. Karawitan refers to traditional Javanese musical games that use typical instruments, such as gamelan and Javanese vocals. Karawitan is enjoyed as a performance, as a masterpiece of art and also as a religious means.

Gamelan is an instrument consisting of various percussion such as gongs, metallophones, and drums. Gamelan instruments are used to play melody and harmony in karawitan. Apart from gamelan, Javanese vocals are also an important element in musical art. Javanese vocals are usually performed using the melisma technique, namely a melody that repeats one melody over and over again, without consuming long words.

The art of karawitan involves improvisation and collaboration between musicians. In musical performances, musicians work together using a specified scale (patet) to produce a harmonious melody. Karawitan performances are also often performed collectively, with several musicians playing together to create complex and harmonious compositions.

Karawitan is not just entertainment, but also has religious and spiritual meaning in Javanese society. Karawitan performances are often held at religious events, such as celebration ceremonies, group prayers and traditional rituals.

Karawitan art is an important part of Indonesia's cultural heritage and was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2003. The uniqueness and beauty of this musical art has attracted the interest of many fans of traditional musical arts, both inside and outside Indonesia.