Gamelan Sekar Jaya Gamelan Sekar Jaya Gamelan Sekar Jaya is a Balinese gamelan ensemble located in the San Francisco Bay Area. It has been called "the finest Balinese gamelan ensemble outside of Indonesia" by Indonesia’s Tempo Magazine. It performs the music and dance of Bali in many different genres of Balinese gamelan, mainly gamelan gong kebyar, gamelan angklung, gender wayang, and gamelan jegog. Past performances have also featured ensembles playing in other styles as well, including gamelan joged bumbung, kecak, gender batel, gamelan gambuh, genggong, and beleganjur. GSJ has also performed contemporary pieces featuring instruments from the Western tradition. Founded in 1979 by
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