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"
Malay Gamelan Malay Gamelan The Malay gamelan which exists today in Malaysia is basically from the courts of Riau-Lingga, Pahang and Terengganu. Although originated from the land of Java, Indonesia, the Malay gamelan has developed a distinct identity compared to the Javanese, Balinese and Sundanese gamelan from Indonesia. The Malay gamelan was usually played at royal occasions during the reign of Sultan Ahmad of Pahang (1882-1914) and Sultan Sulaiman of Terengganu (1920-1942). Based on the ancient royal gamelan set discovered in 1966 at Istana Kolam, Terengganu, a set of Malay gamelan consists 7 basic instruments, which are: This best royal kept secret