It is also performed at many social and religious functions. Through the music, the students also learn about the Javanese way of life. This is customary in Java. It shows concern for the instruments. Also, some of the very old gamelan owned by the royal courts are thought to be inhabited by spirits, and are treated with great respect.
Singers also perform with the ensemble.
Each component was built especially for this orchestra, said Perlman. The instruments are only to be played with this orchestra, because they are tuned as a set. In the summer of 1997, Perlman traveled to Indonesia to commission a gongsmith to build the new gamelan. The following summer, Perlman returned to Indonesia to play the orchestra and refine the tuning. It was delivered in late April of this year.