On Wednesday, November 22 @ 10:30am, join Sparkle Motion as she hosts world-renowned Javanese Puppetmaster (dhalang) and orchestra director, Midiyanto, and Javanese vocalist, Heni Savitri, for an in-studio acoustic performance and interview ahead of their performance with UC Berkeley’s Javanese Gamelan Orchestra Sari Raras on Saturday, December 2 @ 8pm at Hertz Concert Hall on the UC Berkeley Campus.
The ensemble plays on an exquisite set of instruments named Gamelan Kyahi Udan Mas, donated to the Department of Music by Sam and Louise Scripps, who also donated an equally beautiful set of shadow puppets which are used in Sari Raras’s shadow play performances.
Under the leadership of Midiyanto and Ben Brinner, Gamelan Sari Raras includes students and former students at Berkeley as well as musicians from surrounding communities, including ethnomusicologists who specialize in various types of Indonesian music, as well as others who have trained in Indonesia. Midiyanto has introduced thousands of students to the musical traditions of Central Java and Gamelan Sari Raras presents noon and evening concerts every semester in Hertz Hall.
