Sounds of the Royal Courts: Gamelan Music & Dance of Java

Hosted at Mingei International Museum

Experience the enchanting world of Javanese gamelan music and dance with Joko Sutrisno and Tri Martodikromo. Joko, an acclaimed performer, composer, and educator, and Tri, a celebrated dancer of this refined tradition, have thrilled audiences in both Indonesia and the United States. In this special performance, Joko will be joined by the Indonesian Consulate Community gamelan and members of the Canyon Crest Academy gamelan. Together, they will bring to life the intricate rhythms and rich harmonies of traditional Javanese music and the captivating dances that reflect the cultural depth of Indonesia’s artistic heritage.

Following the performance, join Joko, Tri, and the ensemble for a Q&A session, where you’ll have the chance to delve deeper into the history, instruments, and stories behind the music and dance. Expect an evening that offers an unforgettable glimpse into one of Indonesia’s most cherished art forms.

About the artists:
Joko Sutrisno is an accomplished Javanese gamelan performer, composer, and educator who has engaged with students and audiences both in Indonesia and abroad. Sutrisno graduated from the Indonesian Institute of Arts, Surakarta, Java, in 1987. He directed the gamelan ensemble at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand for 8 years before moving to Minnesota in 1995, where he was artistic director of Sumunar Gamelan and Dance Ensemble. He was recently appointed as a professor of gamelan at UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and the UC Riverside School of Music. As a Center for World Music teaching artist, he directs the Javanese gamelan ensemble at Canyon Crest Academy high school. He is also currently the consulting director for the student gamelan ensembles at Saint Thomas University, The University of South Dakota, (Vermillion); Concordia College, (Moorhead); and Hamilton College (New York). In 2024, Sutrisno was appointed as an apprentice for the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA).

Tri Martodikromo, born in Central Java, Indonesia, has been deeply immersed in dance from a young age. After moving to the Twin Cities in 1995, she became the dance director for the Sumunar Indonesian Music and Dance Ensemble. Known for her inspiring choreography and teaching, Tri has shared Indonesian dance across the Midwest through workshops, residencies, and community classes. Now residing in Los Angeles, Tri continues her mission of connecting communities through the art of Indonesian dance.

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This programming is supported in part by Creative West and the National Endowment for the Arts.