Siswå Sukrå is a London-based community gamelan group of fifteen or more players. The group grew out of the gamelan programme founded by composer Alec Roth at the Southbank Centre in 1988. It is tutored by Pete Smith, one of the UK’s leading gamelan musicians and teachers.
Siswå Sukrå plays pieces from the central Javanese gamelan repertoire, both classical and modern, in moods ranging from solemn court ritual to exuberant village celebration. Its programmes are designed to introduce new audiences to a great musical culture that has fascinated composers and listeners for centuries.
In Java itself, the gamelan is most often found accompanying dance and drama performances. Besides performing pieces in concert style, Siswå Sukrå regularly accompanies Javanese dance in classical and more popular styles, and has played for wayang kulit (shadow-puppet) plays.
For a general information booklet on gamelan and Siswå Sukrå, visit the Gallery page.