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Gamelan

“I love playing in the Gamelan with the nicest people you could wish to meet.”

We operate an inclusive Gamelan performance group for adults, which meets weekly on Wednesdays from 3pm – 4pm in the Spectrum Centre, Shankill Road, Belfast.

Full Gamelan orchestra on stage with performers.

Open Arts has had the magnificent hand-carved Javanese Gamelan orchestra for over 25 years and is the only full Javanese Gamelan in Northern Ireland. It is an extraordinary collection of melodic percussion instruments from Indonesia comprising gongs, metallophones and drums of various shapes and sizes.

As well as being stunningly beautiful to look at, the Gamelan has an other-worldly, vibrant, sonorous sound. The instruments are uniquely accessible to play, so experienced musicians can perform alongside complete beginners, and people with and without disabilities are encouraged to join. Many participants feel the sounds and reverberations of the gamelan are incredibly relaxing and soothing, and helps improve their mental health.

Seven gamelan members play instruments on stage at Julan Julan production whilest being conducted.

For more information about any of our music programmes or to organise a bespoke Gamelan session for 5 – 12 people please contact Bev, Bev@openartsni.org or phone 028 9024 0765. 

Three dark wooden stick beaters with long handles and red woven tops sit on top of four metal bonang pots.
Javanese slenthem instrument with bronze metal keys that are suspended by cord on top of bamboo tube resonators encased in a wooden frame. The mallets have a short handle and a thin wooden disk edged in red cloth.