by Jo Hilder | Feb 28, 2026 | 2026, Events Recent
Saturday 28 February 2026, noon The Dell, Wellington Botanic Gardens This performance by Gamelan Taniwha Jaya outdoors in The Dell was the first time for many years that gamelan has been brought to the Wellington Botanic Gardens. The programme featured a range of Balinese gong kebyar repertoire temple music, 20th century compositions by renowned Balinese composers, and music to accompany dance. Ratoh Jaroe, a traditional Acehnese dance, was also presented by the Indonesian Students Association. Java Fusion Indonesian food truck kept the crowd picnicking in the sunshine well fed. Koha was collected by the Friends of the Wellington Botanic Gardens to contribute to the renovations to the Begonia...
by Jo Hilder | Oct 11, 2025 | 2025, Events Recent
Saturday 11 October 2025, 6pm - at the Aldersgate Centre in central Christchurch This major event celebrated 30 years since Elaine Dobson oversaw the commissioning of a gong kebyar gamelan set from Bali and its arrival at the University of Canterbury on Christmas Eve, 1995! The event featured performances from UC Gamelan now led by Justin DeHart, with a guest appearance from their most recent teacher from Bali I Made Kartawan. Joining them in the celebrations were Gamelan Padhang Moncar and Gamelan Taniwha Jaya from Gamelan Wellington, and Gamelan Puspawarna from Dunedin. The programme was as follows: Budi S. Putra – Tembang PANGKUR Gedong Kuning Pelog Nem UC Gamelan Ensemble Gambang Kuta (I Wayan Lotring) Kompyang (I Wayan Lotring) Rejang Sari - with dancers Gamelan Padhang Moncar Patetan Slendro Sanga Jugag - Ketawang Miji Dhempel - Lancaran Glopa Glape - with dancer: Veronica Augustin Dyah N Puspawarna Dunedin Community Gamelan group Ladrang Slamet Ladrang Asmarandana Langgam Ngimpi (Ki Mujoko Joko Raharjo) Gamelan Taniwha Jaya Seketi (adapted for Gong Kebyar from gender wayang repertoire) Baris Tari Cendrawasih (I Nyoman Windha & I Wayan Berata) - danced by Veronica Augustin Dyah N Wayang Kulit (dhalang/puppeteer: Ki Joko Susilo, accompanied by Gamelan Padhang Moncar) The Story of Ciptaning I Made Kartawan leads the UC Gamelan Gamelan Padhang Moncar Puspawarna bonang players Veronica Agustin Dyah dances Tari Cendrawasih with Gamelan Taniwha Jaya Wayang Kulit by Ki Joko Susilo (with...
by Jo Hilder | May 24, 2025 | 2025, Events Recent
Saturday 24 May, 2pm Adam Concert Room, New Zealand School of Music, Victoria University of Wellington Kelburn Campus Students of PERF250 who studied Javanese gamelan with Budi S. Putra for one semester presented their final recital: Lancaran Janji Allah Slendro Manyuro, Budalan - Gangsaran, Lancaran Bondet Pelog Nem, and Umbul Donga Pelog Nem. Gamelan Taniwha Jaya and Gamelan Padhang Moncar also performed. The NZ Embassy of Indonesia presented the gamelan prize to Benji Hetariki....
by Jo Hilder | Apr 6, 2025 | 2025, Events Recent
Sunday 6 April, 2pm King’s Theatre, Stratford We were thrilled to be invited to present wayang kulit with Ki Joko Susilo at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, under the guidance of our musical director, Budi S. Putra. We accompanied Joko as he dramatised the story of Ciptoning, an excerpt from the Indian epic, the Mahabharata. On Monday morning, we held gamelan and puppetry workshops for students from local schools....
by Jo Hilder | Mar 5, 2025 | 2025, Events Recent
Wednesday 5 March, 6-7pm Asia-Pacific Music Studio (MS303), NZ School of Music An introduction to one of the most well-known musical traditions of Bali: Gong Kebyar. This was a hands-on session where participants learned about the instruments, how the music is put together and had a chance to try their hand playing the instruments, including the most fantastic deep and resonant gong. The workshop was led by experienced members of Gamelan Taniwha Jaya – the Balinese gamelan brought to NZ by Gareth Farr and now housed at the NZ School of Music at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. We welcome newcomers to join the...
by Jo Hilder | Jan 13, 2025 | 2025, Events Recent
Monday 13 January, Tākina Convention Centre, Wellington The 48th World Conference for the International Council for Traditions of Music and Dance (ICTMD) was held in Wellington in January 2025. Music and dance from Java and Bali was well represented at this significant event. Our Javanese gamelan, Gamelan Padhang Moncar collaborated with dancers from Triadhika Productions, Jakarta in presenting two dances with live music: Gambyong Parianom and Srimpi. Gamelan Padhang Moncar also performed Nusantara Indah (karya Dedek Wahyudi). Dancers from Triadhika Productions perform Gambyong Parianom (Photo: Hendra Yudha) Srimpi dancers from Triadhika Productions (Photo: Soyam Dean) Mahdi Bahar, from Jambi University, Sumatra, performed a selection of dendang Minangkabau songs, on the rabab darek with Megan Collins on vocals. Mekar Bhuana, a New Zealand/Balinese gamelan and dance centre, also presented Balinese dance with live music as well as concerts of selonding music and gender wayang at the conference. Putu Evie Suyadnyani and Ayu Reehanna Wandira from Mekar Bhuana Mekar Bhuana perform gender wayang Mekar Bhuana Selonding...
by Jo Hilder | Oct 13, 2024 | 2024, Events Recent
Sunday 13 October 2024, 7pm Adam Concert Room, New Zealand School of Music, Victoria University of Wellington Kelburn Campus The 2024 students of Javanese gamelan (PERF255) at the NZ School of Music (tutored by Budi S. Putra) presented their final recital. Gamelan Wellington also celebrated 50 years of gamelan in Aotearoa. Grace Lawrence receives the Indonesian Embassy gamelan prize for 2024 PERF255 Student on demung Gamelan Padhang Moncar Gamelan Taniwha Jaya The concert also included items from Gamelan Padhang Moncar and Gamelan Taniwha Jaya. Guest dancer, Veronica Agustin Dyah performed Tari Pendet with Gamelan Taniwha Jaya, and a masked dance to the music of Asmaramurka by Nanang Karbito. Tari Pendet Tari Pendet Mask dance Mask dance All photos courtesy of Maxie Caseando...
