Gamelan in Oman…

I had a great Javanese gamelan jam session this week-end in Oman — was such fun to make music with players of all ages in Muscat. Before I even moved from Lebanon to the Sultanate of Oman, I had this crazy idea of starting the first Javanese gamelan ensemble in Oman (and the Gulf?). In fact, I even discussed the idea with Indonesian Embassy officials in Lebanon (their Embassy in Beirut has a Javanese gamelan of its own). Though we didn’t cook up any immediate plans to help make my “gamelan in the Gulf” dream come true, all of the pieces (quite literally) fell into place last month through a bizarre set of circumstances — that led me straight to a full gamelan set and fellow gamelan expert just down the street from my new home. Now we’ve teamed up to teach gamelan in Oman.

It feels wonderful to be reunited with my favorite instruments and playing Javanese melodies in Muscat​ ​– a lovely way for people with diverse backgrounds to come together and make meditative music. What can I say? I’m totally gaga for gamelan, and it’s a true honor and joy to be sharing it with others in the Gulf.