Rehearsals / Events Calendar
-
Follow Us!
KLENÈNGAN: CLASSICAL JAVANESE MUSIC IN AN INFORMAL SETTING

SATURDAY, May 28, 2022
7 TO 11 P.M.
Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia
5 East 68th Street
New York City
Suggested donation $10.
Please make your donation before coming to the performance.
Register and donate: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/5410293
Audience members will get a take home Indonesian snack box!
Please bring proof of vaccination and wear a mask
Feel free to bring a pillow to sit on. Chairs will be provided.
An informal music event in Java, a klenèngan features musicians who gather for a kind of jam session, often arranged by a family for a special event. Typically lasting until late at night, audience members are intimately involved, integrating the social with the musical. Guests come and go as they wish, quietly chat with other audience members, and immerse themselves in a transporting evening of music that draws from the Javanese classical repertoire.
Made possible in part with public funds from Creative Engagement, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC). And, with a grant from the American Indonesian Cultural and Educational Foundation (AICEF). And, with support from the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia.



Posted in Announcements
Leave a comment
Concert at Roulette in Brooklyn – December 7, 2019
Saturday, December 7, 2019 8:00 PM
Robert Browning Associates presents
Saturday, December 7, 2019 8:00 PM
GAMELAN KUSUMA LARAS with I.M. HARJITO
Guest Musicians: DARSONO HADIRAHARJO & HENI SAVITRI
Guest Dancer: ANANG TOTOK DWIANTORO
Music & Dance of Java
Roulette, 509 Atlantic Avenue at 3rd Avenue
Downtown Brooklyn | tel. 917-267-0363
Posted in Announcements
Leave a comment
June Klenengan
and the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia present
KLENENGAN: A SINGULAR EXPERIENCE OF JAVANESE MUSIC
I.M. HARJITO, Artistic Director
with Special Guests
DARSONO HADIRAHARJO
HENI SAVITRI
SATURDAY, June 29, 2019
5 P.M. TO 11 P.M.
(45-minute intermission approximately at 7:30)
Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia, 5 East 68th Street, New York City
Admission is free and open to all
Donations gratefully accepted
Come and go as you wish
Gamelan Kusuma Laras presents an evening of Javanese music for the public in the klenengan format – an emblematic type of performance in Java where gamelan concerts on a stage are rare. Klenengan are musical events featuring musicians who gather for a kind of Javanese jam session often arranged by a family for a special event, and which typically go until late at night. Audience members are intimately involved in what is a lively musical and social event; all participants are seated at the same level, in a conspicuous demonstration of mutual exchange and egalitarianism. Guests are invited to come and go as they wish, move around the space, quietly chat with other audience members, enjoy Indonesian snacks, and immerse themselves in a transporting evening of music that draws deeply from the classical repertoire.
Made possible in part with public funding provided by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State legislature. And, with support from the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia.
Posted in Announcements
Leave a comment
Klenengan – an informal performance of music from Java
This December, Gamelan Kusuma Laras will present an informal musical event, klenengan, where musicians play throughout the night with the audience coming and going. This event is free and open to all.
The klenengan will take place at the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia on Saturday, December 15, 2018 from 4 p.m. until midnight. Doors open at 3:30 p.m.
Feel free to bring a pillow or mat to sit on. Though rsvps are not required, we encourage you to let us know if you are planning to attend.
Seating is open. Seats can not be reserved.
Posted in Announcements
2 Responses
Nov 11, 2018 – Asia Society – Music and Dance of Yogyakarta
This November, Gamelan Kusuma Laras is performing with the Keraton of Yogyakarta to bring to New York a rare performance of two classical Javanese dances that were once limited to only within palace walls. This collaboration has been made possible thanks in part to our renowned musical Director, I.M. Harjito.
The concert will be at Asia Society in the Upper East Side of Manhattan on Sunday, November 11, 2018 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Tickets can are available for sale here.
In conjunction with a visit from Hamengkubuwono X, the Sultan of Yogyakarta in Indonesia, Asia Society hosts a performance by the court dancers and musicians of Yogyakarta.
The Keraton of Yogyakarta brings a rare performance of two classical Javanese dance forms performed by some of the finest dancers from Java: the Wayang Topeng, a masked dance for two dancers and the exquisite sacred Bedhoyo, performed by nine female dancers who symbolically balance the universe through the patterns created with the dance. The live Javanese gamelan will feature the musicians from the Court of Yogyakarta joined by members of Gamelan Kusuma Laras.
Co-presented with Yale University, Wesleyan University, and the American Indonesian Cultural and Educationoundation.
Posted in Announcements
Leave a comment
Dec 2, 2017 — Roulette — Gamelan Kusuma Laras with I.M. Harjito
This December, Gamelan Kusuma Laras is partnering with Roulette to present a concert of court music and dance from Central Java, featuring our renowned musical director I. M. Harjito, and special guests Darsono Hadiraharjo, Midiyanto, Heni Savitri, and dancer Anang Totok Dwiantoro.
The concert will be at Roulette in downtown Brookyn on Saturday December 2nd at 8:00pm. Tickets and more information are available online through Roulette’s website.
Posted in Announcements
Leave a comment
December 17-18, 2016 — Music & Dance of Java
Save the date! This December, Gamelan Kusuma Laras will be presenting two concerts of the court music and dance of Central Java.
Dates:
Saturday, December 17th, 8:00pm
Sunday, December 18th, 3:00pm
Tickets are $20, available in advance online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2707414.
Featuring our esteemed guests Anang Totok Dwiantoro (dancer), Heni Savitri (singer) and master musician and our artistic director, I.M. Harjito.
Posted in Announcements
Leave a comment
Archived Webcast of the Wayang Kulit Performance at Asia Society, May 14, 2016
Also posted in Videos
Leave a comment
Join us at Asia Society for a Javanese Wayang Kulit Performance May 14 & 15
Javanese Wayang Kulit: Déwa Ruci (Bima’s Spiritual Enlightenment)
Shadow Puppet Theater of Indonesia

Ki Midiyanto, dhalang, in performance
With guest artist Heni Savitri
Accompanied by Gamelan Kusuma Laras
Directed by I.M. Harjito
Musical overture begins 30 minutes before show time
Déwa Ruci (Bima’s Spiritual Enlightenment)
Wayang kulit, one of the world’s great dramatic art forms, is a complete theatric experience, a visual and aural artistic spectacle. Based on the stories of the ancient epic, the Mahabharata, wayang performance can be counted on to range from the highest expression of classical performance to slapstick comedy, including sly political commentary on the news of the day.
All components of the wayang, from deft and often thrilling manipulation of intricately carved and painted flat leather puppets, to cueing the gamelan musicians who accompany the play is directed by one individual, the dhalang. This artistic polymath speaks in the voices of all the puppet characters, often 25-50 in one story, recites ancient poetry, sings in the characters’ voices, provides musical direction to the musicians via sung cues or knocks using a mallet clasped between his/her toes on the wooden puppet box, and sets the pace of the unfolding story. Ki Midiyanto performs in several languages, Javanese, Kawi, an ancient Javanese poetic language, and English.
On Sunday, May 15th we will host a special one-hour Javanese wayang kulit for families and children.
Click here for details.
Co-presented with the Indonesian Consulate New York. Part of Asia Society’s Citi Series on Arts and Culture
Posted in Announcements
Leave a comment