The New York Times (August 15, 1971) reports that Indonesia's musicians are slowly finding themselves out of work. The traditional gamelan music can still be heard at night all over central Java, but the chances are good that the music comes from tape recorders. Orchestras have decreased in number & instruments gather dust.

For about $13, an orchestra of 12 can be hired for a performance that may last eight hours. Included is the cost of transporting more than a ton of bulky instruments by horse or oxcart.

For less than $8, young men on motorcycles or in a borrowed truck speed down with loudspeakers, tape recorder & tapes of the best gamelan orchestras in Indonesia. They can be ready for action in minutes. Most of the music they offer is traditional, but not all: the recorded music of John Lennon was played at an all-night celebration for the birth of a child.

To many villagers, especially the young, the new, fancy electronic equipment is more exciting than a group of old men with ancient instruments. Not many youths are learning to play & carry on the art form.

Aside from the merits of a live performance & a performer's art, other questions arise. What are the old men going to do with their time? What other activities will give them equal satisfaction?

In New Guinea, such questions are serious, for already economic unemployment is a major problem & to this is now being added cultural unemployment.