Sekar Langit gamelan ensemble from Canberra

Be transported to Bali with this performance from the Sekar Langit gamelan ensemble from Canberra. Based at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, Sekar Langit plays the fast and loud Balinese gamelan - a collection of multiple brass instruments that are hit with hammers to produce a shimmering sound that will captivate you. This music is used for many purposes in Bali, including temple rituals, accompanying traditional theatre, and for tourist entertainment. 
A major feature of Balinese gamelan is the interlocking rhythms, known as kotekan. Keen ears will be able to hear some musicians playing off-beat, thereby doubling the number of notes being performed each beat. This adds to the rhythm and drive of the piece. Other elements to listen out for are the signals from the kendang (front drum), and the multiple layers of the melody shared between instruments. 
We would also like to share with you some elements of Indonesian culture as we perform, so you may learn a bit more about the cultural contexts of these instruments. The gamelan has a long and varied history, from the courts of Medieval Java to near-extinction in the early twentieth century, gamelan is currently experiencing a modern revival. You may even have heard it in recent feature films and tv programs such as The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, or Breaking Bad. Should you travel to Indonesia, you will then be able to understand this incredible instrument with more depth.

Indonesian food and snacks available.