Grinnell College Home | Back to Graphics Version

Fine Arts Home | Art | Music | Theatre

Music Department Home | Faculty | Course Sites | Ensembles | Events | Facilities | Lessons | Alumni | Students

 

JAVANESE MUSIC AND DANCE ENSEMBLE
Roger Vetter, director; Val Vetter, dance instructor

Learn experientially about the arts of Central Javanese karawitan (music) and beksan (dance) through involvement in this (1 credit) ensemble.

The rudiments of the Central Javanese music tradition are taught on an authentic gamelan originating from the court city of Yogyakarta on the island of Java, Indonesia. A gamelan is a large, predominantly percussion, orchestra that is used to perform music for listening pleasure and to accompany dance and various forms of dance and puppet theatre. The varied instrumentation of the gamelan provides a student with numerous levels of challenge, and many members of the ensemble remain involved in the study of this music over several semesters.

Javanese gamelan music and dance are highly integrated, and Grinnell is one of the few places outside of Java where both are regularly taught. The highly controlled and codified movements of Javanese dance offer interested students a whole new perspective on the art of dance. Musicians and dancers in the ensemble stage one on-campus performance per semester and are occasionally invited off-campus to perform.

No previous musical or dance experience is required for enrollment in this ensemble.