Javanese Spiritual Music by Gamelan Sekar Sersan

Date: 28 April (Sat)
Time: 7.30pm – 8.30pm
Venue: Open Stage

“Sekar” is High Javanese for singing and poetry, while Sersan is an Indonesian portmanteau combining “serius” (serious) and “santai” (relaxed). As the name suggests, Gamelan Sekar Sersan is a relaxed group of serious musicians from diverse backgrounds, brought together by the seriously relaxing pastime of playing Gamelan music. The group comprises Jan Mrázek, Bernard Arps, Faezan Redwan, Thow Xin Wei, Rosemainy, Zulaiha Jalani, Ahmad Mustaqim .

Gamelan Sekar Sersan presents a night of Javanese spiritual and ritual music at the library@esplanade. They will play pieces which are commonly performed at wedding ceremonies, and pieces which are considered to have great spiritual power in themselves. The ensemble will also perform a “Talu”, a suite of pieces often played before the beginning of Wayang Kulit shadow puppet plays.

In this presentation, Gamelan Sekar Sersan will play as a Gadhon ensemble with a smaller number of instruments and gongs and a greater emphasis on singing and ‘softer’ instruments. Be mesmerised by the mystic spirituality and textured interweaving of timbres and melodic lines characteristic of Javanese Gadhon gamelan music.

This programme is held in conjunction with the Esplanade’s Tapestry: A Festival of Sacred Music.