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Incorporating

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Welcome to the UK Gamelan Network website

The site for anyone who is interested in gamelan music and the related performing arts.

An introduction to wayang

For this month's podcast I spoke to Matthew Isaac Cohen who, in his role as dhalang, has recently given a series of wayang kulit performances at London's British Library.

This is the first in a series of three podcasts talking about wayang and Matthew's own experiences as a dhalang. Look out for others later this year.

Go to the podcast page.

Ramayana wayang

From 29 May to 1 June 2008 a remarkable series of wayang took place at the British Library.

Given by dhalang Matthew Isaac Cohen, accompanied by the Southbank Gamelan Players, with pesindhen Esther Wilds the four wayang presented a highly condensed version of the Javanese Ramayana epic from the Birth of Rahwana to the Fall of Alengka.

We have a number of video extracts from these performances. See below:

The Magical Lake
The Tournament
Sarpakenaka
Anoman's Wayang
Anoman's Victory

The Arts of Cirebon

The wayang performances were given in gaya pesisir - a combination of Central Javanese and Cirbonese style of puppetry. Also on the site we now have Matthew Isaac Cohen's article, originally written for Seleh Notes, on 'The Arts of Cirebon' a fascinating introduction to this unique cultural heritage. Download as pdf.

Coming to London's Southbank Centre

In November the Southbank Gamelan Players with Pak Rahayu Supanggah are joined by the Portico Quartet for an unusual collaboration.

The Portico Quartet combines soprano saxophone, bass and percussion with the 'hang', an interesting metal percussion instrument described as an 'otherworldly steel drum', to produce melodic, jazz-influenced music.

For more details see Portico Quartet

We also have further details of workshops offered at the Southbank Centre for schools and other groups next term. See the Southbank page.

Playing techniques

We are pleased to announce a new section on the UK Gamelan website intended for newcomers to Central Javanese gamelan.

We have included notes on some of the important concepts which form the basis of gamelan music, together with a practical gamelan glossary for download and the first in a series of videos demonstrating playing techniques.

It's by no means complete, but we will add new material as soon as possible. In the meantime go to Play Gamelan to find the new items.

 

© Material on this site is copyright UK Gamelan Network and must not be reproduced without permission.

 

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