KLENENGAN: Gamelan Music for Contemplation, October 9, 2022

Experience the relaxing, rich textures of gamelan music in an evening of longer, meditative pieces for Javanese gamelan.

The Sumunar Gamelan Ensemble, directed by Joko Sutrisno, will play traditional Javanese gendhing in an open, informal house concert. All are welcome, coming when you can and staying as long as you like, perhaps bringing a favorite pillow or your favorite book. Tea will be served, and masks are optional.

Sunday, October 9, 2022, 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Sumunar Studio
512 North Prior Avenue, St. Paul 55104

Free admission – contributions gratefully accepted.

BARENG AMBARUNG—Together We Grow, A Tri-Culture Collaboration

SUNDAY, MARCH 20th, 2022, 3:00 p.m., at the Cedar Cultural Center.

Three extraordinary Twin Cities musical artists joined their talents to create this unique program. These include Joko Sutrisno, Sumunar’s artistic director, a performer, composer and teacher of Indonesian gamelan music; Hassan Shahid, an African-American singer, song writer and acoustic guitarist; and Maryam Yusefzadeh, vocalist who, along with multi-instrumentalist Tim O’Keefe, performs Persian musical traditions. Sumunar gamelan musicians and dancers will enhance this exceptional performance. 

The program began with repertoire selected by each participant to represent the essence of their own artistic tradition. It culminated in new compositions combining the three different styles of musical expression. Texts were based on Islamic tradition as practiced in Indonesia. The artistic result required considerable collaborative work by the artists, using each of their musics to support and complement the others. This represents the oneness of humanity, accentuating the beauty of differences while melding the musical experience to best represent a world community.

Tickets: $18 for adults, $12 for students and seniors; Call 612-338-2647

Date/time: Sunday, March 20, 3 pm

Where: Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Ave, Minneapolis 55454

Videos from four of the pieces in this performance are available here.

This project was made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

KLENENGAN: Gamelan Music for Contemplation, November 7, 2021

Experience the relaxing, rich textures of gamelan music in an evening of longer, meditative pieces for Javanese gamelan.

The Sumunar Gamelan Ensemble, directed by Joko Sutrisno, played traditional Javanese gendhing in an open, informal house concert. All were welcome, coming when they could and staying as long as they liked, perhaps bringing a favorite pillow or your favorite book. Everyone was asked to please wear a mask to cover their nose and mouth, for the protection of everyone involved.

Klenengan

Sunday, November 7, 2021, 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Sumunar Studio
512 North Prior Avenue, St. Paul 55104

Free admission – contributions gratefully accepted.

This Gamelan Music program taught and leaded by Joko Sutrisno, a fiscal year 2021 recipient of a Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. 

This project was made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Sumunar at the State Fair

Sumunar Indonesian Music and Dance Ensemble gave six performances at the Minnesota State Fair in 2021, on Monday and Tuesday, August 30 and 31! Performances were at the International Bazaar Stage, located in the southeast corner of the fairgrounds, starting at 10:45, 12:00, and 1:15 on each day.

This dance program taught and leaded by Tri S. Martodikromo, a fiscal year 2021 recipient of a Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. 

This project was made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Sumunar at Como Lakeside Pavilion, June 19

Join Sumunar Indonesian Music and Dance Ensemble for a performance on Saturday, June 19, 2021, at the Como Lakeside Pavilion (1360 Lexington Parkway N, St. Paul). The performance begins at 1:00 p.m. and is free (though donations will be gladly accepted). We hope to see you at this first performance following the long pandemic break!

Gamelan and Dance Workshops – Free! – Saturday, September 18

Experience for yourself the excitement and fun of Javanese gamelan or dance in this ‘hands-on’ workshop. Even if you have never played a musical instrument before or had any formal dance training, by the end of the workshop, you will find yourself playing or dancing with other participants.

The workshops will be held Saturday, September 18th, in the Sumunar Studio (512 North Prior Avenue, St. Paul). The dance workshop runs from 1:00 to 2:00, followed by the gamelan workshop from 2:15 to 3:45. Come to one, or the other, or both!

Suitable for adults and children age 6 and older. No previous experience necessary.

To better plan for the workshop, please register using this link.