Friday, October 4, 2024 at 8pm, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 7:30 pm Asia Society, NY City
In Collaboration with Wesleyan University and Asia Society
The American Indonesian Cultural and Educational Foundation (AICEF) sponsored two major performances of works for gamelan by I.M. Harjito, a master of Indonesia’s central Javanese classical gamelan tradition and currently University Professor of Music at Wesleyan University. The concert featured 4 compositions in traditional gamelan style and a suite of compositions featuring gamelan and instruments from other world music traditions (Irish fiddle, Chinese erhu, Scottish bagpipes, and a string quintet). AICEF also commissioned Harjito to write a special piece which premiered at the concerts: “Lancaran Amerika”. AICEF made this work available to all the gamelan groups in the US, hoping it will be part of their standard repertoire.
For these concerts Javanese gamelan teachers from across the US participated: Sumarsam, Wesleyan University; Heni Savitri, UC Davis; Darsono Hadiraharjo, Emory University; and Joko Sutrisno, UCLA. The overall ensemble included some of Harjito’s most experienced students as well as internationally renowned Indonesian vocalist Peni Candra Rini, a faculty member at ISI Solo.
Throughout his career, Harjito has made immense contributions to the cultural interactions between the United States and Indonesia, teaching multiple generations of students at Wesleyan University, the University of California, Brown University, Smith College, University of Massachusetts, as well as at the Consulate General of Indonesia in New York. As a guest artist he has performed throughout the United States and abroad, appearing on recordings of jazz and world music and has always been in high demand to give workshops and private lessons.
“When Harjito began teaching at Wesleyan in the US in 1975 there were only a handful of other active Javanese gamelan ensembles. Today, there are close to 100 university and community groups, most of which have a leader, teacher, or member who has studied with Harjito. We in the US owe him our deepest gratitude for devoting much of his life to teaching Americans about his culture.” (Wayne Forrest, Chairman, AICEF)
We at AICEF could not think of a better way to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Indonesia than by bringing together the resident Javanese gamelan teachers from across the US to play the music of one its most respected leaders.
Links to Recordings:
October 4 at Wesleyan
October 5 at Asia Society(NY)-Part 1(NY)-Part 2
Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 7:30 pm Asia Society, NY City
In Collaboration with Wesleyan University and Asia Society
The American Indonesian Cultural and Educational Foundation (AICEF) sponsored two major performances of works for gamelan by I.M. Harjito, a master of Indonesia’s central Javanese classical gamelan tradition and currently University Professor of Music at Wesleyan University. The concert featured 4 compositions in traditional gamelan style and a suite of compositions featuring gamelan and instruments from other world music traditions (Irish fiddle, Chinese erhu, Scottish bagpipes, and a string quintet). AICEF also commissioned Harjito to write a special piece which premiered at the concerts: “Lancaran Amerika”. AICEF made this work available to all the gamelan groups in the US, hoping it will be part of their standard repertoire.
For these concerts Javanese gamelan teachers from across the US participated: Sumarsam, Wesleyan University; Heni Savitri, UC Davis; Darsono Hadiraharjo, Emory University; and Joko Sutrisno, UCLA. The overall ensemble included some of Harjito’s most experienced students as well as internationally renowned Indonesian vocalist Peni Candra Rini, a faculty member at ISI Solo.
Throughout his career, Harjito has made immense contributions to the cultural interactions between the United States and Indonesia, teaching multiple generations of students at Wesleyan University, the University of California, Brown University, Smith College, University of Massachusetts, as well as at the Consulate General of Indonesia in New York. As a guest artist he has performed throughout the United States and abroad, appearing on recordings of jazz and world music and has always been in high demand to give workshops and private lessons.
“When Harjito began teaching at Wesleyan in the US in 1975 there were only a handful of other active Javanese gamelan ensembles. Today, there are close to 100 university and community groups, most of which have a leader, teacher, or member who has studied with Harjito. We in the US owe him our deepest gratitude for devoting much of his life to teaching Americans about his culture.” (Wayne Forrest, Chairman, AICEF)
We at AICEF could not think of a better way to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Indonesia than by bringing together the resident Javanese gamelan teachers from across the US to play the music of one its most respected leaders.
Links to Recordings:
October 4 at Wesleyan
October 5 at Asia Society(NY)-Part 1(NY)-Part 2
