Cultural Fusion: The Gamelan Experience
This unique mega-event, which will transform Washington National Cathedral’s Great Nave into an exotic cultural kaleidoscope, includes both Javanese and Balinese gamelan with dancers, archival films, and much more.
We’ll tell the story of the 1889 Paris Exposition (the one with the Eiffel Tower), which introduced Claude Debussy to the hypnotic fragrance of Indonesian music and dance –an introduction that transformed Western music via Debussy and countless other composers.
Program
- Javanese gamelan with dancers
- Debussy: Pagodas (solo piano)
- Balinese gamelan with dancers
- Colin McPhee: Ceremonial Dances (two pianos)
- Maurice Ravel: Vallée des cloches (solo piano)
- Francis Poulenc: Sonata for Two Pianos (movement one)
- Olivier Messiaen: Vision de l’amen (movement one, two pianos)
- Bill Alves: Black Toccata (piano duet, D.C. premiere)
- Intermission — Balinese gamelan
- Lou Harrison: Suite for violin, piano, and chamber orchestra
- Lou Harrison: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra
Artists
- Benjamin Pasternack and Wan-Chi Su, pianos
- Netanel Draiblate, violin
- Indonesian Embassy Balinese and Javanese gamelans and dancers
- PostClassical Ensemble conducted by Angel Gil-Ordóñez
- Commentary by Bill Alves and Joe Horowitz
Practical information
- Phone: 202-537-6200
- Venue: Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016
News / Reviews
El concierto de PostClassical Ensemble de Gil-Ordóñez, entre los mejores de 2019 según Washington Classical Review
— Beckmesser, published on January 28, 2020Top Ten Performances of 2019
— Washington Classical Review, published on December 23, 2019Music from Paradise
— WWFM Classical, published on April 05, 2019Lou Harrison and The Great American Piano Concerto – Reprised
— ArtsJournal, published on February 08, 2019An Earful of Indonesian Inspiration
— The Georgetowner, published on February 08, 2019Indonesia and the West
— The American Scholar, published on January 31, 2019Does Indonesia matter to Western music? Here’s a 3-hour concert that proves it does
— The Washington Post, published on January 24, 2019PostClassical Ensemble Hosts Indonesia Gamelan Experience at Washington Cathedral
— The Washington Diplomat, published on January 13, 2019
Photos
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