Friends of the Gamelan, Inc., has been a part of Chicago's music scene since 1980. Gamelan, the traditional music and instruments of Indonesia, incorporates an ensemble of “hammered” metal and wooden percussion, drums, strings, bamboo flutes, and vocals, resulting in a beautiful collective sound. In Java, gamelan music is not only played at concert events but is also used to accompany theater and dance performances, as well as celebrations of births, coming of age, weddings, harvest rituals and other auspicious functions. The program will feature traditional and modern central Javanese gamelan pieces.

http://www.chicagogamelan.org/