“It’s not official till the gong is hung”: Dr. Sri Hastanto, S. Kar. (interview)

This interview was conducted in early 1987 in Surakarta, shortly after Dr. Sri Hastanto returned from England and his doctoral studies in ethnomusicology at the University of Durham. At that time, he assumed the position of Director of the Akademi Seni Karawitan Indonesia (Indonesian Academy of Musical Arts). His reflections here are especially insightful as he took the helm of one of the country’s most important traditional arts institutions and began charting a new course for its future.