Southbank Gamelan Players
Ensemble in Residence at Southbank Centre, Southbank Gamelan Players has achieved an international reputation for collaborating with dancers, puppeteers and composers from Indonesia, Europe and the USA. The ensemble - comprising many players who have studied extensively in Java and Bali - performs both traditional Javanese repertoire and champions new music for gamelan.
Renowned Javanese musician, composer and ethnomusicologist Dr Rahayu Supanggah agreed to act as Associate Artist at Southbank Centre and works closely with Southbank Gamelan Players to devise innovative projects for the future direction of the gamelan programme.
In 1988, the Royal Festival Hall was presented with a full set of Central Javanese gamelan instruments Kyai Lebdhajiwa (The Venerable Spirit of Perfection) as a gift of friendship from the people of The Republic of Indonesia to the people of Great Britain. Since its arrival, the gamelan has become a popular and important part of artistic and educational life at Southbank Centre. Founded by Alec Roth, the gamelan programme has inspired similar education programmes throughout Great Britain and Europe - many of which rely of the expertise of the tutors from Southbank Centre.
Gamelan Classes
Southbank Centre and Morley College Adult learning programme are holding beginner and intermediate gamelan classes on Thursday evenings at Southbank Centre. These sessions will be led by experienced tutor Peter Smith, in the new Gamelan Room in Spirit Level of Royal Festival Hall. The classes start on Thursday 4 October. The beginners class runs from 5.30pm-7.30pm, and the intermediate class runs from 7.30pm-9.30pm.
Enrolment for these courses is through Morley College. Please phone 020 7450 1889 or visit www.morleycollege.ac.uk
For more information on the Gamelan, visit
www.morleycollege.ac.uk/departments/music/javanese-gamelan
