The Gifts of the Pandemic

This article explores how the global gamelan community responded to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. With traditional ensemble rehearsals and performances suddenly impossible, gamelan practitioners turned to virtual spaces to sustain their musical practice and community. The author reflects on personal experiences of online collaboration, participation in virtual festivals, and evolving forms of creativity, highlighting how digital platforms transformed gamelan from a local, in-person tradition into a globally connected, multimedia art form. The pandemic, while deeply challenging, catalyzed a redefinition of what it means to make and share gamelan music, fostering innovation, inclusion, and international exchange.