York Gamelan orchestra joins martial arts group for unique concert
Posted on Friday 23 May 2014
The first performance of its kind in Yorkshire, it will take place on 4 June at the University’s Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall.
One of the organisers, Ginevra House, of the University’s Department of Music, said: “Coinciding with the First World War centenary, the Mahabharata holds particular resonance as a tale of a devastating war between cousins, where all civilised rules of engagement are undermined and an entire race of warriors wiped out. The fight scenes reflect how the line between good and evil become increasingly blurred as the protagonists struggle to prevail, whatever the cost.”
Pencak Silat is an Indonesian martial art, oftenpracticed with musical accompaniment. Its artistic aspects are rarely explored in the UK, where it is mainly learned as a form of self-defence.
The York gamelan, a collection of tuned gongs and metallophones from Java, was assembled in 1981 and was the first purpose-built gamelan in a British University. The group has toured the country extensively and made appearances on the BBC TV and radio and ITV.
The performance starts at 7.30pm on Wednesday 4 June.
Further information
- To purchase tickets and for more information on the event, visit: http://www.york.ac.uk/concerts/programme/gamelan/ or call the Box Office on 01904 322439 (Mon-Fri, 1.00-3.30pm)
- For further information on the Yorkshire Pencak Silat Academy visit: http://yorkshiresilat.co.uk/
- More information is available from Ginevra House on 07853 409 636 or at Ginevra.house@yahoo.co.uk
