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For more information about gamelan at Southbank Centre, please phone us on 020 7921 0767 or send an email

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What is gamelan?


How does it work?




What is it used for?




Southbank Gamelan Players, Ensemble in Residence at Southbank Centre, was founded in 1987. Collaborating with dancers, puppeteers and composers from Indonesia, Europe and the USA, the group has established an international reputation for its performances of traditional Javanese repertoire and its championing of new music for gamelan

The group has commissioned and collaborated with a wide range of musicians including Björk (MTV Unplugged)Alec Roth and Salvatore Sciarrino (ISCM World Music Days).

Notable performances have included the BBC Proms (1998) with artists from STSI Surakarta, an all-night wayang kulit with Ki Purbo Asmoro (2007); collaborations with contemporary choreographers and dancers including Mark Morris Dance Group (Edinburgh Festival)Wayne McGregor and Kenneth Tharp; new British gamelan music at the International Gamelan Festival in Malaysia (2009); and an Arts Council England tour (2010) of Southbank Centre commission Rubber Time, a collaboration between Indonesian composer Rahayu Supanggah, SbGP and electronica duo Plaid.

They premiered SENDRATARI, a Javanese dance-drama featuring shadow-puppetry and multi-media choreographed by Matheus Wasi Bantolo and featuring artists from ISI Surakarta at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in July 2013.





Contact Sophie Ransby, Gamelan Manager
Tel: 020 7921 0767




Southbank Gamelan Players perform Subakastawa, a popular gamelan piece
A joyful performance by Southbank Centre Gamelan Players