Gamelan Encantada

Gamelan Encantada is a percussion ensemble with roots in the gong/metallophone orchestras of Southeast Asia, specifically those of Central Java in Indonesia.  In addition to presenting traditional Javanese music, the ensemble is also committed to performing contemporary and experimental music. In 2011, they celebrated their 20th Anniversary with the release of their CD, Oasis in the Desert: New Music from New Mexico. Frequent past participants in Albuquerque’s Festival of Asian Cultures and at various events at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, they have also been featured at Globalquerque, and were Artists in Residence at the 2012 UNM’s Composers Symposium.  Most recently, they performed at the Chatter Sunday chamber music series as part of a world-wide celebration of the centennial of the birth of West Coast composer, Lou Harrison. Today’s concert will focus mainly on compositions by women, including a suite of traditional Hebrew songs set to gamelan by Jody Diamond, a leading figure in the American Gamelan scene and one of Lou Harrison’s first gamelan teachers;  two pieces by young composers, Maria Siino and Breonna Taylor (both graduate students in composition at Mills College); a two-part piece by Barbara Benary of NYC’s Gamelan Son of Lion;  and two traditional Javanese pieces honoring women. Gamelan Encantada is directed by Jenny DeBouzek. Current members are Oscar Alcala, Sooz Hoffman, Bob Kasenchak, Tessa Martinez, Larry Moore, Chris Morosin, Nathan Smerage, and Devin Williams.  Sharon Eliashar will be the vocal soloist in the Diamond suite.