Gamelan Barasvara
By Kit Macdonald
Founded in 2020 and directed by Lluís Solsona, Gamelan Barasvara are said to be Spain's only stable gamelan formation, gamelan being a traditional ensemble music of Indonesia especially associated with the islands of Java and Bali. It’s built around a collection of percussive instruments – mainly metallophones, gongs, bronze kettles, drums, bamboo flutes, bowed rebab and vocal parts.
The diverse group of musicians and artists who make up Gamelan Barasvara are united by a shared fascination with this music, and the group functions as a "living laboratory", in which tradition intersects with experimentation and collective listening. This live show is presented in collaboration with Museu de la Música de Barcelona, where the group are residents.