Echoes Across Oceans – Debussy and Gamelan in Musical Dialogue

MARKK invites you to a special encounter with the Sundanese gamelan tradition. Young Indonesian musicians and cultural scholars will explore the influence of gamelan music on Claude Debussy and his compositions, followed by the world premiere at 6:00 pm of newly commissioned works by Marisa Sharon Hartanto for gamelan and piano. Gamelan is a traditional Indonesian ensemble consisting primarily of metallophones, individual gongs, gong chimes, and drums. Talks at 3:30 pm and 4:00 pm will examine how Claude Debussy was profoundly influenced after hearing gamelan music for the first time at the 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle. Parts of the gamelan ensemble presented there are now part of the MARKK collection, creating an audible connection between historical encounters and contemporary musical practice.

Weather permitting, the event will take place in the MARKK Summer Garden, where Indonesian snacks will also be available.