What is javanese gamelan?
Gamelan, the 20-piece percussion orchestra of Java, has captivated many who have experienced its exotic sound. Gongs of all sizes, bronze chimes, xylophones, drums, strings and flute weave a web of melodies and rhythms which come together at the awesome strike of the big gong. Over this complex accompaniment, male and female singers chant poetry evoking the ancient Hindu-Buddhist world of Java. Depending on the mood of the piece, gamelan music can be relaxed and playful, joyous and festive, or thundering and majestic, at one end of the spectrum. However, it is the meditative character of the slow and refined pieces – delicate, sensuous, profoundly mystical and serene like ‘moonlight poured over fields’ – so rare in a hectic modern society, which gives Javanese gamelan its particular appeal to audiences around the world. Vi King Lim Vi King Lim graduated in 1995 from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) in composition. In 1992 he began learning to play the Javanes
