First International Gamelan Festival and Symposium

This article recounts the events and significance of the first International Gamelan Festival and Symposium, held during Indonesia Expo 1986. The gathering brought together nearly 200 participants from around the world to engage in performances, scholarly presentations, and discussions on topics ranging from pedagogy and new instrument design to traditional aesthetics and cross-cultural adaptation. The symposium highlighted the tensions between formal and informal performance, tradition and innovation, and localized versus globalized practice, while showcasing both Indonesian and international artists.