Gamelan Aotearoa

Approximately two hundred excited guests braved the Wellington weather to join us for the Gamelan Aotearoa performance at the National Library last evening.

Officially introduced by the Indonesian Ambassador Tantowi Yahya (pictured), the music was performed by Wellington’s Gamelan Padhang Moncar (Budi Putra, Director).

Dr Anton Killin is the Lilburn Research Fellow, 2021. His research focuses on cross-cultural music composition in New Zealand relating to the use of Indonesian gamelan. Gamelan has been a significant cultural influence on New Zealand composers since it was introduced. Since gamelan first arrived in New Zealand in 1975, many New Zealand composers have been inspired to write works for the ensemble include David Farquhar (1928-2007), Judith Exley, Megan Collins, and Lilburn Fellow Anton Killin, whose pieces featured in this concert, along with that of Indonesian composer Dedek Wayhudi and US composer Lou Harrison (1917-2003).

Thank you to Gamelan Padhang Moncar who proudly presented this concert of works for Javanese gamelan with a sample of traditional Javanese music for context.

Photos courtesy of Mark Beatty, ATL Photographer