Invitation to Indonesia: A Sharing of Music and Dance

Sunday, June 9, 3 p.m.
Como Park Pavilion
1199 Midway Parkway
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Free family event by Como Lake in St. Paul!

Sumunar Gamelan and Dance Ensemble
Music Director: Joko Sutrisno
Dance Director: Tri Sutrisno

Traditional gamelan music of Java, Indonesia, including traditional and contemporary dances.

The concert will be immediately followed by a free gamelan workshop from 4:30 – 5:15 p.m.

October 18-20, 2018
Southern Theater
1420 Washington Avenue South Minneapolis

Join us for two exceptional programs of Indonesian music and dance!

Sumunar and the Southern Theater proudly present the premiere of Endang Nawangsih: Thirst for Water, featuring guest dancers Wisnu Wicaksono and Baghawan Ciptoning. Follow the story of a young woman, Endang Nawangsih, as she persuades a prince to help her in her quest to secure fresh water for her village. Endang Nawangsih questions her own motives as the prince wages battle with an ogre on her behalf. Featuring choreography by Tri Sutrisno and music by Joko Sutrisno. The program also includes contemporary and traditional dances from Indonesia, performed by the Sumunar Dance Ensemble, joined by the guest artists. The Sumunar Gamelan Ensemble, with distinguished guest musicians, provides live gamelan music.
Thursday-Friday, October 18-19, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 20, 2 p.m.

An unprecedented gamelan and dance performance! Our Saturday evening show, Javanese Classics, showcases our guest musicians, four of the world’s most respected contemporary Javanese gamelan musicians: I.M. Harjito, Midiyanto, Djoko Walujo, and Darsono Hadiraharjo, in an evening of Javanese classical music and dance. Experience world-class artistry in a program featuring the meditative long-form gendhing, which will highlight the skills of our visiting musicians. This program will also feature classical dances, including the elegant court gambyong dance and the masked topeng dance, with distinguished guest dancers Wisnu Wicaksono and Tri Kumara as the epic character Klono and his impish antagonist. Never before has such an illustrious group of gamelan musicians been gathered on a Twin Cities stage. This is one concert not to miss!
Saturday, October 20, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets
General admission: $20 in advance, $24 at the door
Students and seniors 65+: $12
ARTshare members: Free
Saturday matinee: Pay what you can
Reserve online

Don’t miss: free dance workshop led by Wisnu Wicaksono Tuesday, October 16, 5:30-7 p.m.

These activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Indonesian Music and Dance Performance

Presented by the Sumunar Gamelan and Dance Ensembles
with the University of St. Thomas Gamelan Ensemble

Free admission! Open to all!

Saturday, May 5, 7:00 PM
Baumgartner Auditorium
Brady Educational Center
University of St. Thomas
2115 Summit Ave, St. Paul

Click here for a map. Parking is available at the Anderson Parking Facility at the corner of Grand and Cretin Avenues.

Join us for a FREE Program of Indonesian Music and Dance

Presented by the Sumunar Gamelan and Dance Ensemble

Featuring guest dance artists
Wahyu Santoso Prabowo • Maharani Luthvinda Dewi • Tri Kumara

And introducing the St. Thomas Gamelan Ensemble

Wednesday, April 12, 2017, 7:30 PM
Baumgartner Auditorium
Brady Educational Center
St. Thomas University
2115 Summit Ave, St. Paul

Click here for a map. Parking is available at the Anderson Parking Facility at the corner of Grand and Cretin Avenues.

This concert is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Additional support from the Asian Pacific Endowment of the St. Paul Foundation.

Sumunar musicians and dancers will offer an all-night shadow-puppet (wayang kulit) performance at Northern Spark 2016, from sundown on Saturday, June 11 to sunrise on Sunday, June 12. The performance features master dhalang (puppeteer) Midiyanto, who has worked with Sumunar on several occasions, most recently in sold-out performances in October 2011. Guest musicians include I.M. Harjito on gender and rebab and pesinden (singer) Heni Savitri. The performance will also feature dancing by Javanese master dancer Wisnu Aji Settyo Wicaksonowith the Sumunar Dance ensemble.

The theme of Northern Spark 2016 and 2017 is Climate Chaos | Climate Rising. In keeping with the theme, Sumunar performs Bimo Gugah (Bimo Prevails). In this story, a hero discovers that the volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and drought destroying his country are the result of corrupt leaders. Amidst the climate chaos, people are hungry for change—can Bimo save the day? Midiyanto will serve up political commentary and social satire, along with fast action scenes, all to the accompaniment of a full gamelan orchestra. Join us under the stars for an Indonesian tradition you won’t want to miss!

Bimo Gugah will be performed in open air in the courtyard of the Mill City Museum. Check the Northern Spark site for information on the many other performances at or nearby the museum that night.

Here is a sample of Sumunar performing wayang kulit with master dalang Midiyanto in 2011. More information on wayang kulit.

GA + LO = Gamelan and Cello
Sumunar Gamelan and Dance Ensembles
Joel Salvo, Guest Cellist

Saturday, October 10, 2015, 7:30 p.m.
Sundin Music Hall, Hamline University, 1531 Hewitt Ave, St Paul
Tickets: $12 for adults; $8 for students and seniors

This performance featured the first public performance of Galo a composition by Sumunar music director Joko Sutrisno for cello solo and Javanese gamelan. Galo (Ga = gamelan, Lo = cello) was “officially” premiered one week later (October 16) at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City, Iowa, as part of their centennial celebration for the Sioux City Symphony. Joel Salvo was the solo cellist in both performances, very successfully meeting the challenge of integrating the rich sonority and technique of cello with the contrasting tonal and rhythmic structure of gamelan music.

Sari, the third and central movement of Galo, was previously performed as accompaniment for a dance choreography by Tri Sutrisno, Sumunar dance director. Tri performed this for both the St. Paul and Sioux City performances of Galo. We share it here for your enjoyment.