Gamelan Magic Orchestra member Ryuichi Sakamoto also used gamelan elements for his soundtrack to the 1983 British-Japanese film "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence", which won him the 1983 BAFTA Award for Best Film Music. Many listeners were introduced to the sounds of gamelan by the popular 1988 Japanese anime film "Akira". Gamelan elements are used in this film to punctuate several exciting fight scenes, as well as to symbolize the emerging psychic powers of the tragic hero, Tetsuo. The gamelan in the film's score was performed by the members of the Japanese musical collective Geinoh Yamashirogumi, using their "semar pegulingan" and "jegog"
Gamelan Sekaten Gamelan Sekaten The Gamelan Sekaten (or Sekati) is a ceremonial gamelan (musical ensemble) from central Java, Indonesia, played during the annual "Sekaten" festival. The word ""sekaten"" itself is derived from "syahadatain" or "shahada", the first requirement for converting into Islamic faith. Traditionally it is played once per year, on the occasion of "Mawlid", Muhammad's birthday, for the week from the 6-12 of the month of "Mulud" (the third month of the Javanese calendar, corresponding to the Islamic "Rabi' al-awwal"). On this celebration it is brought from the palace at 11 pm to two pavilions before the Great Mosque. It is