Gamelan

The School of Music at the University of Leeds is home to a specially-commissioned gamelan set, an Indonesian percussion instrument which is still used in traditional ceremonies, theatre and concerts today. The instruments – bronze gongs and metallophones, drums and a wood xylophone – were hand-forged and hand-carved in the court city of Surakarta in Central Java.

Gamelan has been part of Indonesian culture and identity for centuries. An 8th-century monument in Borobudur, Java, shows musicians at a gamelan set. Nowadays it is played by men, women and children of all ages, often as part of religious rituals and public events. It is taught in schools, clubs and workshops, as well as being taught to children within families.

You can see a live gamelan performance here, from the Golden Thread concert series at Leeds.

Our goal is for the children to feel that they have their own culture, because if they love their own cultures that exist in Indonesia, it will be the same as loving their country.

In 2021, the gamelan was added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

This YouTube video explains the benefits and uses of gamelan, from religious rituals, ceremonies, traditional theatre, festivals and concerts, but also as music therapy and a creative means of expression.

The Golden Thread

Below is a gallery of the gamelan set specially made for the University of Leeds. It is named the Golden Thread in reference to Leeds’ strong connections with the textile industry.

Over the years it has been used in multiple concerts led by talented and experienced performers and composers. It was also used in a public workshop where attendees could learn a traditional gamelan piece and learn more about its cultural background.