Yogyakarta. The Karaton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat is bringing the Yogyakarta Royal Orchestra (YRO) to Jakarta as a call for cultural revival during Indonesia’s National Awakening Day momentum. Carrying the theme “Gregah Nusa,” the concert symbolizes a collective call to revive national awareness through music.

The concert took place on Saturday at Teater Besar Taman Ismail Marzuki in Central Jakarta, starting at 5 p.m. Western Indonesian Time. The Yogyakarta Royal Orchestra will showcase the musical diversity of the archipelago through a blend of modern orchestral arrangements and traditional instruments.

Committee Chairperson GKR Bendara said “Gregah Nusa” is more than an artistic theme. The phrase represents the spirit of rising, moving forward, and remaining vigilant in reaffirming national identity.

“In Javanese, ‘Gregah’ means to rise, while ‘Nusa’ refers to the homeland. Through this concert, we want to encourage collective public awareness of national identity,” GKR Bendara said on Saturday.

She emphasized that the concert serves as a medium for cultural preservation that remains relevant in a modern context. Music was chosen as a universal language to foster a stronger sense of ownership toward Indonesia’s diversity.

“Through music, we hope to ignite the spirit of national recovery and progress amid global challenges,” she said.

GKR Bendara also explained the decision to stage the YRO concert in Jakarta, saying the capital city offers a strategic platform to reach a broader and more diverse audience.

“Jakarta is a meeting point for people from various backgrounds, allowing Javanese cultural values to be accessed more inclusively by the wider public,” she said.

She stressed that bringing the concert to Jakarta does not mean leaving Yogyakarta behind as the cultural root. Instead, the palace seeks to bring those noble values onto a broader stage.

“This is part of the Keraton’s active contribution in strengthening national diversity,” she said.

In its performance concept, YRO combines Western orchestral music with traditional Indonesian instruments. The approach goes beyond simply placing the instruments side by side, instead harmonizing different musical systems into one arrangement.

“This process involves converting tonal systems between diatonic and pentatonic instruments to create a complete harmony,” she said.

She added that the concept opens new opportunities for exploring traditional music while also increasing public appreciation for local instruments in large-scale performances.

“This proves that musical boundaries can be blended to create a distinctly Indonesian identity,” she said.

GKR Bendara also described the Yogyakarta Royal Orchestra as an agent of cultural diplomacy. According to her, the orchestra not only preserves culture but also introduces Javanese traditions to the global stage.

“YRO represents the modern face of Yogyakarta tradition that can be accepted by international audiences through an orchestral format,” she said.

Meanwhile, concert Project Manager Bagus Pradipta described “Gregah Nusa” as a metaphor for the revival of Indonesian nationalism, linking the spirit to the historical momentum of the establishment of Boedi Oetomo.

“Gregah Nusa reflects the rise of the nation from adversity and symbolizes the beginning of the modern movement against colonialism,” he said.

The Keraton hopes the concert will have a meaningful impact, particularly among younger generations, by not only introducing them to cultural heritage but also fostering pride and encouraging preservation efforts.

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