Friends of the Gamelan, Inc.
Dedicated to the performance and instructionof Javanese gamelan music in Chicago since 1980
Friends of the Gamelan at Millennium Park
Thursday, July 11, 2013 • 8:00 p.m. | |
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Friends of the Gamelan has the distinct honor of opening for Dan Deacon
at the Loops And Variations festival this summer at the Pritzker Pavillion at Millenium Park.
Dan Deacon (pictured at left, but not dressed for July in Chicago) is an Read all about the Loops And Variations festival on the City of Chicago's official site. Special thanks to our own April Camlin for presenting us with this wonderful opportunity. |
Donate to Friends of the Gamelan | |
| The Friends of the Gamelan Endowment has been established to ensure a bright future for community gamelan education and performance in Chicago. Now more than ever, your donation to the Endowment is crucial to our continued success. There is a giving level for every budget. |
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 Philatélie et Patrimoine Mondial |
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| Wayang Kulit • November 2007 |
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| A brief video excerpt of a traditional shadow puppet show with music by Friends of the Gamelan and the University of Chicago Gamelan Ensemble, Joko Sutrisno on kendhang, and dhalang Midiyanto. |
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We were recently visited by reporters from Voice of America Indonesia who produced this video segment for broadcast in Indonesia. A whirlwind tour of the past, present, and future of gamelan music in Chicago! |
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Our Spring Concert CD from May of 2008 is available for purchase on
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Performance Ensemble |
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The Performance Ensemble meets at
Hyde Park Union Church
on most Tuesday evenings.
You are welcome to join us if you have previously studied Javanese gamelan music or dance.
There is typically a modest class fee. If you have not previously studied Javanese gamelan music and would like to learn, you are welcome to attend the free beginning gamelan class that is offered in the fall. For more information, please contact info@chicagogamelan.org. |
Can We Play For You? |
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As a small, not-for-profit musical organization,
Friends of the Gamelan supports itself in part through paid performances.
We have been privileged to perform at a variety of Chicago's landmark venues,
including Millennium Park, the Field Museum, the Chicago Cultural Center, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Art Institute.
(Alas, it would impractical for us to play for loose change on Chicago's legendary El platforms.)
We have also performed at special occasions such as weddings, art openings, and birthday celebrations.
If you are interested in a unique and memorable listening experience, please contact us at info@chicagogamelan.org for information on pricing, availability, space requirements, etc. |
Looking Back
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Gamelan Concert Saturday, October 6, 2012 • 2:00 p.m. A. F. Siebert Chapel Carthage College Kenosha, Wisconsin |
| We returned to Carthage College for an afternoon of traditional and modern Javanese gamelan music. We first played at Carthage College in May of 2011, and we greatly appreciated this opportunity to perform there once again for an enthusiastic audience in an exceptional venue. | |
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Gamelan Concert and Workshop Sunday, April 22, 2012 • 1:00 p.m. DePaul Concert Hall 800 W. Belden Avenue, Chicago with Joko Sutrisno, Guest Artistic Director |
| Performers from Friends of the Gamelan and the University of Chicago presented an hour-long concert under the direction of Joko Sutrisno, joining us all the way from Minneapolis/St. Paul. Following the performance, concertgoers were invited onstage to learn the Balinese monkey chant. |
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An Afternoon of Javanese Gamelan Music Sunday, February 12, 2012, 3:00 p.m. University of St. Francis, Joliet, Illinois Sexton Auditorium, Moser Performing Arts Auditorium 
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| Thanks to everyone who joined us for this afternoon of traditional and contemporary Javanese gamelan music. Our varied program featured some pieces that are new to our repertoire as well as traditional favorites that we have performed for many years. Concertgoers enjoyed a hands-on introduction to the gamelan and its instruments following the performance. |
Javanese Gamelan Concert
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The 13th Annual World Music Festival Chicago presents Friends of the Gamelan Chicago Cultural Center • Preston Bradley Hall Sunday, September 18, 2011 3:00 p.m. |
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One concertgoer commented, "It was so beautiful, repetitive, simple, elegant… It sounded like… water… and moonlight… I felt like I was at the beach, listening to the surf, meditating on the beauty of creation…" | |
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An Evening of Javanese Gamelan Music Saturday, September 10, 2011, 8:00 p.m. Footlik Theater • Performing Arts Building Oakton Community College • Des Plaines, Illinois |
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Evanston Ethnic Arts Festival Saturday, July 16, 2011 |
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| We were thrilled to perform at the Evanston Ethnic Arts Festival which featured live music, dance performances, and arts & crafts from around the globe. Thanks to all of the musicians, volunteers, and loyal supporters who made this such a memorable afternoon. | |
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American Batik Design Competition Thursday, May 19, 2011 Preston Bradley Hall Chicago Cultural Center |
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| The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia invited us to play for the Chicago launch of the American Batik Design Competition. This gala affair included a fashion show featuring the finest Indonesian batiks, a batik-making presentation, and traditional Indonesian dances and music. And it wasn't just a feast for the eyes -- guests enjoyed samples of Indonesian cuisine generously offered by the Consulate. |
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Concert and Workshop Saturday, May 14, 2011 2:00 p.m. Wartburg Auditorium David A. Straz, Jr. Center Carthage College Kenosha, Wisconsin |
| We headed north to Carthage College for an afternoon of traditional and modern Javanese gamelan music. This was our first performance at Carthage College, and we greatly appreciated their kind invitation to play for a small but enthusiastic audience in a beautiful performance venue. | |
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An Evening of Javanese Gamelan Music Sunday, May 1, 2011, 6:00 p.m. Hyde Park Union Church |
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| A memorable evening of traditional and contemporary gamelan music presented once again under the artistic direction of master musician and educator Joko Sutrisno. Our program included traditional Javanese favorites, an American folk song and hymn arranged for gamelan, and the premiere of an original composition by our own Patrick Liddell. Performers and audience members alike love the beautiful sanctuary of Hyde Park Union Church. |
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Feast of Pentecost Rockfeller Memorial Chapel Sunday, May 23, 2010 |
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| We last performed in Rockfeller Memorial Chapel in 2005 and were thrilled to be invited back to perform for Pentecost services. Our repertoire includes traditional American hymns arranged by Joko Sutrisno for chorus and gamelan, a fitting offering for this special occasion. |
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An Evening of Javanese Gamelan Music and Dance Sunday, April 25, 2010 Hyde Park Union Church |
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Our thanks to all of the musicians, volunteers, and concertgoers
who made our annual spring concert such a wonderful experience!
We were once again under the artistic direction of Joko Sutrisno,
who envisioned an exciting repertoire and inspired all of us to master it through many hours of rehearsal.
Terima kasih to Tri for making the evening complete with two traditional dances. Special thanks to Rev. Susan Johnson and Anthony Harmon of Hyde Park Union Church and Robert Kendrick (Chair), Steven Rings, Kaley Mason, Kathy Holmes, and Rashida Black of the University of Chicago Department of Music. |
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Gamelan Concert and Workshop Abraham Lincoln Elementary School Oak Park, Illinois May 15, 2009 | ||
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We were joined once again by our good friend and artistic director, Joko Sutrisno,
for a concert and workshop at Lincoln School in Oak Park.
In four hands-on workshop sessions, legions of schoolchildren learned the
fundamentals of gamelan music and played a simple piece.
The performance ensemble also presented a few of the liveliest pieces in its repertoire,
carefully selected by Joko to appeal to our target audience.
Thanks to everyone at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School for the warm reception!
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An Afternoon of Javanese Gamelan Music Sunday, October 12, 2008, 2:00 p.m. University of St. Francis, Joliet, Illinois Moser Performing Arts Auditorium
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| Thanks to everyone who joined us for this afternoon of traditional and contemporary Javanese gamelan music. Our varied program featured a reprise of several songs from our recent spring concert as well as traditional favorites that have been in our repertoire for years. The concert was followed by a hands-on workshop, and concertgoers were soon playing like pros! |
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Spring Gamelan ConcertSunday, May 11, 2008 • 6:00 p.m.Hyde Park Union Church Joko Sutrisno, Guest Artistic Director Tri Sutrisno, Guest Artist |
| We were pleased to present this exciting program of traditional and contemporary Javanese gamelan music, including the premiere performance of Purwa-Pada, an original composition by one of our own performers, Morgan Wirthlin of the University of Chicago Central Javanese Gamelan Performance Ensemble. We were once again under the artistic direction of Joko Sutrisno, joining us all the way from Minneapolis. Our program will featured two traditional dances performed by guest artist Tri Sutrisno. | |
Gamelan Concert and WorkshopSaturday, April 19, 2008 DePaul Concert Hall 800 W. Belden Avenue, Chicago with Joko Sutrisno, Guest Artistic Director |
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Performers from Friends of the Gamelan and the University of Chicago presented an hour-long
concert under the direction of Joko Sutrisno, who joined us all the way from Minneapolis.
At the workshop following the concert, several DePaul students learned to play a simple
gamelan piece on our venerable and well-loved traveling iron gamelan.
Finally, we all raised our voices as Joko taught us the famous Balinese "Monkey Chant."
Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this a memorable afternoon for all!
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Wayang Kulit
With guest artists Joko Sutrisno and Midiyanto
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Wayang Kulit is an Indonesian art form in which two-dimensional painted leather puppets
are made to cast shadows onto a screen lit from behind.
The flat puppets of wayang kulit are beautifully gilded and painted,
and in any single show there may be dozens of them representing gods, kings, warriors, hermits, ogres, and clowns.
All are manipulated by one puppeteer, who sits behind the screen and supplies voices for all the different characters.
Javanese wayang kulit is accompanied by gamelan,
traditional Indonesian music which
incorporates an ensemble of "hammered" metal percussion, drums, strings, bamboo flutes, and vocals.
On the program is the story of Bima and Dewa Ruci which comes from the Hindu epic Mahabharata. The Mahabharata has been adapted over centuries to the Indonesian context. While the stories are essentially old and predictable to the audience, a significant part of what the puppeteer does is to adapt them creatively to political and cultural events happening in the present day. Sponsored by: University of Chicago Department of Music, Arts Planning Council, Friends of the Gamelan, Inc., Hyde Park Union Church, and Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia, Chicago. |
Flag-Raising Ceremony at Daley Plaza
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Paul Tobin Memorial Tuesday, May 15, 2007 Hyde Park Union Church |
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Sadly, our friend and founding member of the Friends of the Gamelan, Paul Tobin, passed away in February of 2007.
His tireless dedication to the ensemble and kind spirit were remembered
as we gathered to share his music and stories of his life.
Soft gamelan music in the gadon tradition set the appropriate mood. |
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Friends of the Gamelan were pleased to support Indonesian Performing Arts Chicago (iPAC) in its Indonesian Night, a cavalcade of Indonesian culture, music, and dance. The program included central Javanese gamelan directed by Joko Sutrisno and performed by The Indonesian Performing Arts Association of Minnesota and Friends of the Gamelan. The music of Bali was expertly rendered by Gamelan Mitra Kusuma, joining us all the way from Washington, D.C. Finally, the angklung bamboo orchestra of western Java was presented by a group of dedicated enthusiasts from Lomira, Wisconsin. |
Friends of the Gamelan performed for an enthusiastic audience at the grand reopening of the Chicago History Museum alongside Native American dancers and performers representing Mexico, Ireland, and Japan. |
Gamelan Workshop
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Wayang Kulit
at the
Chicago Cultural Center
Sunday, June 25, 2006, 3:00 p.m.Friends of the Gamelan
welcomed celebrated dhalang
Purbo Asmoro
from Surakarta to Chicago
in a performance of brilliant
shadow-puppet theater
in the beautiful
Preston Bradley Hall
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An Evening of Javanese Music and Dance Sunday, April 30, 2006 6:00 p.m. Hyde Park Union Church 5600 S. Woodlawn Ave. University of Chicago Central Javanese Ensemble and Friends of the Gamelan with guest artists Maria Mendonça Katharina Anggraeni Wisnu Meier |
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Saturday, February 25, 2006 Asian American Coalition of Chicago 23rd Annual Celebration: "Unity in Diversity" |
| Photo Album | This year's annual celebration was hosted by the Indonesian-American community and featured Indonesian food and culture, including a performance by Friends of the Gamelan. |
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Mid-Winter Concert Saturday, February 11, 2006 3:00 p.m. Hyde Park Union Church 5600 S. Woodlawn Ave. Free admission (Donations gladly accepted) An informal performance and workshop in our new venue. |
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Saturday, September 3, 2005 |
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Saturday, August 27, 2005 |
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Saturday, June 11, 2005 |
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Sunday, June 19, 2005 |
Saturday, May 7, 2005 | |
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We performed for the Opening Program of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month in the Pritzker Auditorium at the Harold Washington Library. We were joined by guest artist I Gusti Ngurah Kertayuda, who performed the traditional Topeng Klana dance accompanied by live gamelan music. |
Sunday, January 23, 2005
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A small ensemble performed a program of soft, gadon-style music at The Renaissance Society on the campus of the University of Chicago. The performance was in association with an art exhibition entitled The Here and Now. We found ourselves in a minimalist, all-white setting both indoors and outdoors, as Mother Nature had arranged for us to move the gamelan instruments through a snowstorm. |
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| Thanks to all who contributed to the success of our concert on February 20, 2005. Concertgoers donated almost $500 to the Indonesian Disaster Relief Fund. |
For technical inquiries regarding the web site,
please contact boffin@chicagogamelan.org.