Gamelan Sekar Jaya

**Gamelan Sekar Jaya** (English: **Victorious Flower Orchestra**) is a Balinese gamelan ensemble located in the San Francisco Bay Area. It has been called "the finest Balinese gamelan ensemble outside of Indonesia" by Indonesia’s Tempo Magazine.

Gamelan Sekar Jaya performs the music and dance of Bali in many different genres of Balinese gamelan, mainly gamelan gong kebyar, gamelan angklung, gender wayang, and gamelan jegog. Past performances have also featured ensembles playing in other styles, including gamelan joged bumbung, kecak, gender batel, gamelan gambuh, genggong, and beleganjur. Gamelan Sekar Jaya has also performed contemporary pieces featuring instruments from the Western tradition.

Due to their unique sound and location within San Francisco, The Residents collaborated with Gamelan Sekar Jaya on multiple occasions between 1998 and 2005.

## History

Gamelan Sekar Jaya was formed in 1979 by I Wayan Suweca, Rachel Ann Cooper and Michael Tenzer to introduce Balinese gamelan music to a wider US audience. It was originally an exclusively live ensemble based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Around 1990, classical musician Carla Fabrizio joined the group and began to perform with them.

## Collaborations with The Residents

The earliest connection between Gamelan Sekar Jaya and The Residents was in 1995 when both groups featured on the Sun Ra tribute album *Wavelength Infinity*.

Carla Fabrizio started collaborating with The Residents in 1998; in October of that year the orchestra performed three songs with The Residents during the second act of their Fillmore '98 live residency, "Seven Ugly Crows", "Melancholy Clumps" and "Bethesda Bathes".

Their next collaboration with The Residents was in 1999 when they recorded a gamelan version of "Santa Dog" for the group. At these sessions, they also recorded the track "Ninth Rain". Following this, Gamelan Sekar Jaya performed with The Residents at a one-off Icky Flix show (later released as *Brava*), performing "Bridegroom of Blood".

At a concert at a private amphitheater in San Francisco celebrating the ensemble's 25th anniversary on October 9th 2004, the ensemble performed "Bridegroom of Blood" with The Residents as surprise guests.

The last time they worked with The Residents was in 2005 when they played on the song "Burn My Bones" on the album *Animal Lover*. In 2009 The Residents released the digital-only compilation *The Bridegroom of Blood - Gamelan Collection*, collecting all the group's collaborations with Gamelan Sekar Jaya.

## Discography

* *Kreasi Baru Gong Sekar Jaya (From: Amerika)* (1981)
* *American Works For Balinese Gamelan Orchestra* (1993)
* *Constellation / The Art Scene* with Dan Plonsey (1995)

## Appearances on Residents releases

* *dot.com* (2000, Instrumental loaned for 'Santa Dog')
* *Kettles Of Fish On The Outskirts Of Town* (2003, uncredited on 'Bridegroom Of Blood')
* *Best Left Unspoken... Volume Two: High Horses And Other Selections* (2007, on 'Ninth Rain')
* *Animal Lover* (2005, on 'Burn My Bones', uncredited)
* *Animal Lover Instrumental* (2008, on 'Burn My Bones', uncredited)
* *The Bridegroom Of Blood - Gamelan Collection* (2009)
* *Brava* (2010)
* *Lost In A Vacant Lot* (2010, on 'Burn My Bones', uncredited)
* *Refused* Klanggalerie reissue (2019, on 'Santa Dog For Gamelan Orchestra')
* *Wormwood Box: Curious Stories From The Bible pREServed* (2022, uncredited, on 'The Seven Ugly Cows', 'Melancholy Clumps', 'Bethesda Bathes', & 'Bridegroom of Blood', live 1998)

## External links and references

* Official website
* Gamelan Sekar Jaya at Wikipedia

1. ↑ Ben Frandzel, "Balinese Artists Join Gamelan for Anniversary Concert", Berkeley Daily Planet, October 4th 2004