Indonesian gamelan music show, selamatan celebration with Javanese drummer Pak Wakidi Dwidjomartono

St. John Grace Episcopal Church in Buffalo welcomes the community to an Indonesian gamelan music show and selamatan celebration with renowned Javanese drummer Pak Wakidi Dwidjomartono. The event begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16.

A press release noted, “Nusantara Arts welcomes you to experience our incredible new set of Indonesian bronze gamelan instruments at our new home St. John Grace Episcopal Church. This space now doubles as our practice location and performance venue!

“This is the first major exhibition of Nusantara Arts Javanese gamelan music since before COVID began, and we are ecstatic to come back in style, with bronze instruments, new compositions, and a fantastic guest artist. We're taking this opportunity to honor our new gamelan in its new home with this ‘selamatan’ event, which is a traditional celebration for friends and neighbors. Join us as we embark on a new stage in our history, and for a wonderful evening of music and culture.

Tickets are available at https://nusantaraarts.networkforgood.com/events/36937.

The press release continued, “Pak Wakidi Dwidjomartono, one of the finest living Javanese gamelan musicians, highly sought-after for his incredible drumming all over Central Java, will be joining us for this performance, in the U.S. on a rare visit from Indonesia. Don't miss this opportunity to see a true gamelan master and living legend.”

Nusantara Arts will perform compositions from the traditional Central Javanese repertoire, as well as a set of three new compositions (out of 12) commissioned by Nusantara Arts during COVID and written by some of the most exciting Javanese composers now working, including I.M. Harjito, Pardiman Joyonegoro and Ki Jungkung Darmoyo

"Selamatan tickets'' and "housewarming tickets" include a special Indonesian snack box of sweet and savory morsels.

Organizers said, “Traditional selamatan celebrations include a community feast; while we can't do that due to COVID, we will provide these excellent snack boxes to these ticket purchasers.”

All patrons must be vaccinated and masked during the performance. They also should be prepared to show proof of vaccination at the door. Seating will be spread out around the venue. Unvaccinated children under the age of vaccine eligibility must be accompanied by their parents

Those who want to sit with their family and friends can buy their tickets together. Tickets purchased together will count as a "pod."

Funding for this performance is generously sponsored by The Cullen Foundation.