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 semar pegulingan the royal family to sleep when it played in the late evenings in the inner sanctum of the palace. There are very few of these gamelan left in Bali. This orchestra is used primarily for instrumental pieces, as the dance repertoire is long since forgotten. The orchestra includes saron jongkok, a gentorag bell-tree, gumanak tube chimes and a kempyung–all features of court gamelan. Mekar Bhuana about Gamelan Semar Pagulingan by Vaughan Hatch Gamelan semar pegulingan Gamelan semar pegulingan is an old variety of the Balinese gamelan. Dating back from around the 17th century, the style is sweeter and more reserved