MCG regularly presents musical concerts, wayang kulit (shadow puppet) and dance performances for community events, schools, functions and end of semester graduations for Music Faculty students.
A large or small ensemble is available for hire to play at events and festivals. The ensemble rehearses on a beautiful gamelan set owned by Melbourne University.
Klenengan, wayang kulit and tarian performances by MCG can be viewed on our YouTube channel.
Our founding Musical Director, Ki Poedijono O.A.M., was well-known for teaching gamelan to universities and community groups across Australia for many years. Read about Ki Poedijono >>
Members
MCG has 15-20 active members who come from diverse backgrounds. Several members have been studying and performing since 1990, formerly under Ki Poedijono’s direction, in MCG and various other groups.
Background
The Melbourne Community Gamelan was formed in 1990 when a Commonwealth Government grant for the promotion of Asian Studies in Education to the University of Melbourne enabled the purchase of the instruments, and the establishment of a permanent group of performers.
Based at the University of Melbourne, the ensemble is equipped with both slendro and pelog gamelan instruments, a full set of ‘wayang‘ (shadow puppets) and screen. The beautiful set of instruments, said by former MCG teacher, Ki Poedijono to be the finest sounding of all the gamelan in Australia, was purchased in Madiun, central Java, in 1990. The great gong, almost a metre in diameter, was forged in 1888, according to an inscription inside the gong in the Kawi script, the ancient Javanese language.
Read an article about the Melbourne University gamelan, & the development of MCG >>
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri People, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we rehearse, and pay respects to their Elders past and present.
Thank you to all our enthusiastic supporters and our audiences. Melbourne Community Gamelan would like to thank the Faculty of Music at the University of Melbourne for the privilege of rehearsing on its gamelan set, Nyi Gemi Raras, and for assistance and support over the years.
Matur nuwun sangat, Mbak Cathy.