Gongcast

The podcast of the American Gamelan Institute. Gongcast presents the traditions and innovations of gamelan and Indonesian music, and music from around the world inspired by these arts.

Karna, a shadow puppet opera

Scenes from a wayang by Barbara Benary, with Son of Lion and singers.

KPFK Broadcast - Concerto For Piano and Javanese Gamelan - Harrison

KPFK broadcast on "Concerto for Piano with Javanese Gamelan" on Global Village with host John Schneider, and guests Sarah Cahill, Jody Diamond, and Evan Ziporyn.

Mostly Slendro Passacaglia

By Barbara Benary. Audio recording from New Gamelan/New York, Gamelan Son of Lion Records GSOL CD-1.

Sad/Happy for Clarinet, with Gamelan Son of Lion (2009)

Live performance of "Sad/Happy" for clarinet by Daniel Goode. Video recorded by Jody Diamond.

Slendro Clarinet, with Gamelan Son of Lion (2009)

Live performance of "Slendro Clarinet" by Daniel Goode with Gamelan Son of Lion. Video by jody diamond.

The Mythical Origin of the Gamelan (2022)

A wayang performance by Ki Purbo Asmoro, live translated by Kitsie Emerson. 100 gamelan musicians. 3 Javanese gamelan sets. 1 Balinese gamelan set. 1 gamelan set from Sumatra (Talempong). Presented in 5 sessions, 90 minutes each including discussions with Kitsie Emerson and an additional interview with Ki Purbo himself.

Wayang Esther: A Purimspiel

Music and libretto by Barbara Benary, puppets by Barbara Pollit and Joko Susilo, with Gamelan Son of Lion and guests.

An American Gamelan

Outlines the design, construction, and tuning methods of a Western-made gamelan modeled on Southeast Asian instruments, detailing its materials, scale systems, and experimental approaches to just intonation.

Biographies of 11 Indonesian Composers (2001)

Versions of 11 biographies of Indonesian composers, written for and published in Bakers Dictionary of Musicians and Composers, eighth edition, N. Slonimsky, editor.

EAR Magazine. Gamelan: Indonesian Arts in America (1983)

Formal Aspects of Performance Practice in Central Javanese Music (1977)

MA thesis, original manuscript. An edited version appears in Balungan Vol.13 2019

Guide to Sundanese Music (1992)

A practical introduction to Gamelan Saléndro/Pelog, Gamelan Degung, and Panambih Tembang Sunda.

Guide to the Gamelan (1990)

First edition.

Instruction Manual: The Colvig-Harrison Monochord

A builder's guide to the monochord, used for the study of tuning systems.

Kalatidha: Interpretasi Makna Karya Sastra Ke Dalam Karawitan Tradisi Kontemporer (2018)

Kalatidha: Interpreting Literature Through Contemporary Classical Music. Wahyu Thoyyib Pambayun. ISI Surakarta. Master's Thesis. (In Indonesian)

Making Aluminum Bonang (1983)

From EAR Magazine.

The Autochthonous American Gamelan (1975)

Doctoral dissertation, Wesleyan. The creation, adaptation, and cultural context of an American-made gamelan, detailing its construction methods, musical repertoire, integration with shadowplay, and the development of a unique hybrid tradition combining Javanese, American, and “Thoomese" influences.

The Design and Construction of a Contemporary American Gamelan (1979)

The Javanese Gambang and its Music (1975)

Extensive MA thesis.

Toward an Appreciation of Javanese Gamelan

Translation of Kinanthi Semedi (1983)

A.K.A. "Nalikani," this is one of the most frequently used texts for singing with Javanese gamelan.

5 (lima) (2006)

For Javanese rebab, gender barung (slendro and pelog), gambang, kempul, gongs, and computer.

5 SE

For gamelan and clarinet.

A Cornish Lancaran (1986)

For pelog Javanese gamelan and saxophone.

A Lion Does Not Read Books (1985)

For American gamelan. May be adapted.

a little piece for pianoforte (2000)

For pianoforte.

A Place to Believe (2002)

For string quartet.

Air Naga

For Javanese gamelan.

Aku Berjalan

For amplified Javanese gamelan and string quartet.

Al Het (1986)

For voice and gender/gambang.

Allahuakbar (1989)

Open score that invites multiple interpretations.

Angklung Sampler Book (1993)

Compiled by Barbara Benary. Notation for traditional pieces and original works for gamelan angklung (four-tone slendro), and information on making bamboo angklung.

Bluish Haze

For gamelan.

Changes (1981)

For Javanese gamelan.

Circular Thoughts

For pelog gamelan or any set of mallet instruments with a 7 note scale.

Coast

For American gamelan. May be adapted for any gamelan.

Collected Compositions (1994)

Compiled and edited by Jody Diamond.

Dan's King

For gamelan in slendro and pelog and three wooden puppets.

Eine Kleine Gamelan Music

For gamelan or mixed ensemble.

Five Inventions for Bonang and Percussion (1984)

For bonang panerus, bonang barung and percussion, in laras pelog.

Gelas 1091 (1991)

For kenong, gong, singer, speaker, piano, suling gambuh, gentorak, and 10 performers with drinking glasses.

Gending Erhu (1983)

For gamelan in mixed tuning and erhu.

Gending Jody (1977)

For gamelan in slendro.

Gending Moon (1994)

For gamelan.

Ghosts

For gamelan in slendro.

Gong Dance à 7

For seven performers with handheld gongs.

Gong Kundali Shakti (1989)

For a combination of gamelan and non-gamelan percussion instruments in an equal-temperament tuning. Numerous options are possible.

Gotong Royong (1985)

For Javanese gamelan and chorus. Laras pelog, pathet barang.

In Celebration of Golden Rain (1980)

For Javanese gamelan in slendro and pelog, and pipe organ.

In That Bright World (1981)

For slendro gamelan and voices.

Kantaka (2018)

For three Javanese rebab, slendro gender, and Sundanese kecapi.

Kerinduan (1995)

For Javanese gamelan.

Korona Suminggah (2021)

For Javanese gamelan. Laras pelog, pathet lima.

Lancaran Siborupastima (1984)

For slendro Javanese gamelan, fretless bass, and trap drums.

Let Me Have a Dream

For Javanese gamelan.

Lholands (1991)

For Javanese instruments and voice.

Lintang (2019)

For Javanese gamelan and three part choir.

Main Bersama-sama (1978)

For Sundanese gamelan degung and French horn.

Marta Budaya

For Javanese gamelan slendro, with an additional vocal part contributed by jody diamond using text from Serat Centhini.

Mas in 1 minor (1986)

For Javanese gamelan and flute.

Mostly Slendro Passacaglia (1993)

Mostly Slendro Passacaglia is a composition for instruments in slendro and pelog with clarinet and suling. It was composed by Barbara Benary in 1993 as part of her wayang kulit theater piece Karna: A Shadow Puppet Opera. This piece combines slendro and pelog to create a composite scale and unusual harmonic framework. It takes the form of a passacaglia, an eighteenth-century musical form characterized by a repeating ground-bass ostinato in triple meter.

NightWaters

For Javanese gamelan.

Philemon and Baukis (1987)

For Javanese gamelan and violin.

Prelude: Anyone Can Play (1987)

For gamelan. Participatory text score.

Puppet Dance

For gamelan instruments in slendro and pelog.

Rag for Deena (1982)

For gamelan in pelog.

Rain (1987)

For Javanese gamelan.

Ramona

For clarinet, trombone, and pelog Javanese gamelan instruments.

Random Chords (1988)

For gamelan in slendro or pelog.

Reong Lenggong

For gamelan angklung. In staff notation.

Sad Happy (2015)

For clarinet

Sebuah Buku Tentang Aku, Kamu, dan Mereka

For violin and piano.

Sindu Arsa (1987)

For Balinese gamelan angklung.

Slendro Clarinet

For clarinet and gamelan.

Song of the Lord

For tenor and piano.

Terus dan Terus (1989)

For two drummers and other instruments.

Tetabeuhan Sungut (Onomatopoeia) (1976)

For unaccompanied voices. Graphic score.

The Cave (1987)

For gamelan and small choir of altos and tenors.

The Monkey Puzzle

For Javanese gamelan.

The September Vision (1993)

For Javanese gamelan, soprano, and erhu. Laras pelog.

The Sycamore Tree

For Javanese gamelan and percussion.

Trimbat

For three differently tuned Balinese ensembles (gong gede, kebyar, pelegongan). Using only jegogan and calung pairs plus three gongs.

Volume I: The Braid Pieces (1993)

Anthology. For gamelan, mixed Instrumentation.

Volume II: Satires (1993)

Anthology. For gamelan, mixed Instrumentation.

Volume III: Pieces in a Single Tuning (1993)

Anthology. For gamelan, mixed Instrumentation.

Volume IV: Pieces in Mixed Tunings (1993)

Anthology. For gamelan, mixed Instrumentation.

Warna (1990)

For Sundanese gamelan.

Waton (1995)

Graphic score. Open instrumentation.

Waves (1981)

For Javanese gamelan.

Woodstone (1982)

For gamelan in slendro and pelog.

Yellow Flower Burial (1992)

For Two Players, Gender, and Slenthem. Text score.

Yokaze

For voices and unspecified percussion.

KendangFontSunda

For notating drumming from Sunda (West Java).

KepatihanPro

KepatihanPro is a font for cipher notation, and includes symbols frequently used in the notation of gamelan music. It is based on the font Kepatihan, designed by Carter Scholz, and was later developed by MA and RQ to include many symbols and formats often used in gamelan notation.

Angklung Sampler Book (1993)

Compiled by Barbara Benary. Notation for traditional pieces and original works for gamelan angklung (four-tone slendro), and information on making bamboo angklung.

Beginning Gender: Lessons with Sukamso

Collected by Larry Polansky in 1988-89. Includes damping exercises, a variety of cengkok, and garap of several pieces.

Bonang: Bubaran Udan Mas

Yogya style from K.R.T. Wasitodiningrat.

Gambang Suling

Notation by Pak Cokro. Sometimes known as Swara Suling or Suara Suling, is often credited to Nartosabdho. The piece is extremely popular, and has been arranged and re-arranged in both vocal and instrumental versions for a wide variety of ensembles and instruments, including Balinese gamelan, Sundanese angklung, and classical guitar. In Pak Cokro's notation, the introduction uses older Yogyanese symbols for the individual drum strokes; the rhythm is indicated as "Wirama Rumba."

Kumpulan Lagu-Lagu Degung Klasik

A collection of classic Degung pieces. Compiled and edited by Matt Ashworth, Bandung, July 2002.

The Javanese Vocal Notation of K.R.T Wasitodiningrat, Book I: Slendro

With Pak Cokro's permission, this collection of notation (in .pdf files) may be freely downloaded. The table of contents, introduction, and indexes were scanned as text and are searchable; the notation itself is not. The introduction is by Alex Dea and Laurie Kottmeyer (and is the only section with a copyright). Editorial comments or corrections in the notation are by Jody Diamond, with assistance from I.M. Harjito and Djoko Waluyo. The indexes are useful for finding versions of pieces in other pathet, or in a particular form.

The Javanese Vocal Notation of K.R.T Wasitodiningrat, Book II: Pelog

With Pak Cokro's permission, this collection of notation (in .pdf files) may be freely downloaded. The table of contents, introduction, and indexes were scanned as text and are searchable; the notation itself is not. The introduction is by Alex Dea and Laurie Kottmeyer (and is the only section with a copyright). Editorial comments or corrections in the notation are by Jody Diamond, with assistance from I.M. Harjito and Djoko Waluyo. The indexes are useful for finding versions of pieces in other pathet, or in a particular form.

American Institute for Indonesian Studies

The American Institute for Indonesian Studies (AIFIS) is a non-profit organization working at the intersection of academic research and public dissemination of information in the broadly defined field of Indonesian Studies. Our programs foster scholarly, artistic, and community-based collaborations between Indonesian and American audiences by promoting educational and research initiatives among our consortium member institutions, offering individual research fellowships, small grants for public programs in the arts and film, and an ongoing series of public lectures, academic writing workshops, conferences, and more.

Art Music Today

Art Music Today is a Yogyakarta-based collective founded in 2008 by Gatot D. Sulistiyanto, Tony Maryana, and Erie Setiawan. The organization creates space for discussion, education, documentation, and creative work focused on music as a form of knowledge production. Rather than limiting itself to any genre, it supports a wide spectrum of musical practice in Indonesia, connecting listeners, composers, performers, researchers, educators, and institutions in collaborative learning and exchange. Their activities include public programs, workshops, writing, and media production aimed at developing resources and strengthening appreciation for contemporary Indonesian musical culture. Art Music Today also runs Rekambergerak (audio–video documentation) and AMT Publisher (publishing). This resource is primarily in Indonesian.

Aural Archipelago

An online repository for the musical sights and sounds of Indonesia, the most musically diverse country on the planet. Part digital archive, part blog, Aural Archipelago mixes field recording, video, photography, and in-depth articles compiled from years of travels across the archipelago. The project is the work of Palmer Keen, an American DIY ethnomusicologist based in Yogyakarta, together with a huge network of collaborators and musicians across Indonesia. With this project, the hope is to allow audiences (local and foreign) free access to music that is often difficult or impossible to hear otherwise.

Gamelan BVG

An online archive of Javanese gamelan materials collected by Barry Drummond, featuring downloadable notation and accompanying recordings. Organized by pathet and musical form, it’s a practical resource for students, researchers, and performing ensembles.

Insitu Recordings

Insitu Recordings is a nonprofit collective founded in 2016 that supports experimental and contemporary music rooted in Indonesia, with a particular focus on Bali. It brings together a growing network of composers, performers, and researchers who work to challenge aesthetic boundaries through collaboration and shared learning. Their mission is to empower the communities who create and perform Indonesian music, foster cross-cultural partnerships, and expand global awareness and appreciation of these practices. Insitu Recordings pursues this through publications, educational initiatives, documentation projects, and sustained collaboration with artists across Indonesia and abroad. This resource is available in Indonesian and English.

Jogja Sonic Index

Jogja Sonic Index is a digital archive documenting Yogyakarta’s experimental and electronic music scene. Part catalogue, part research platform, it presents projects, practitioners, collectives, labels, methods, events and publications from this rich musical network. You’re invited to explore, contribute and engage: anyone with knowledge of the local scene is welcome to add new entries. The archive is primarily in Indonesian, making it a unique window into a vibrant local culture that’s often under-represented in global discourse.

Yes No Wave

Yes No Wave Music is a non-profit music label distributes sound/musical works to a broaden public as an experiment on applying free legal music both online and offline to support open-sharing culture movement. Founded in 2007 by Wok The Rock in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.