Friday, June 28
Yowana Sari Gamelan Ensemble
Presented in collaboration with Asheville Percussion Festival
Audio recorded by Elizabeth Lang
4 – 5:30pm – Workshop
Free Gamelan Workshop with Yowana Sari hosted by Michael Lipsey director of Aaron Copland School of Music at CUNY. Instruments provided.
8pm – Performance
Currently in residence at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, Gamelan Yowana Sari has recently returned from a tour in Indonesia, performing in Pengosekan, Bali, at the home of the composer I Dewa Ketut Alit. They will perform Alit’s work, traditional Balinese arrangements, and a new arrangement of Double Music by BMC composers Lou Harrison and John Cage.
Gamelan Yowana Sari has been a performing Balinese Art Ensemble since 2011. The group is currently in residence at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. They’ve recently returned from a 2-week tour in Indonesia, performing in Pengosekan, Bali, at the home of the extraordinary composer I Dewa Ketut Alit. Gamelan YS performed two of Alit’s works along with other kreasi baru (new works) by Evan Ziporyn and Pak Windha. Gamelan YS have a long relationship with Alit as a constant source of encouragement and instruction. The group plans to return for their third time for a longer tour of the island.
The trajectory of the ensemble has been exciting. Since forming in 2011, Gamelan YS has performed major festivals in the US, including the Percussive Arts Society International Convention 2017 in Indiana, the River-to-River Festival, Make Music NY Festival, Midori and Friends and have a long-lasting relationship with the Queens County CASA (Cultural After School Adventures) program. The group works with public school students on team-building activities through gamelan-based percussion music. The music of a community, along with the teachers, allow the students to create music for cartoons and engage in other performance-related activities.