Unfortunately, the celebrated gamelan program at the University of Michigan is currently in danger of being shut down, as the university is refusing to find housing for the instruments. So far, the petition to preserve the rich gamelan tradition at the University of Michigan has reached 674 signatures–but it could use a lot more. Studying Javanese gamelan introduces students not only to “non-western” music, but also to the world’s cultural diversity. My personal experience of studying Javanese gamelan at Brown University changed my life in more ways than I can count or explain. It would be a shame if students at the University of Michigan were robbed of this unique and transformative educational opportunity due to a lack of “space.” To sign the petition and help preserve the gamelan at the University of Michigan (seen in concert in the video above), please click here–and help spread the word!
February 15, 2014 may be your last chance to see and hear the full set of beautiful bronze instruments of the Javanese court gamelan orchestra that for nearly fifty years has entertained and exposed students, faculty and the Ann Arbor community to one of the world’s great music and dance traditions. In March, the gamelan will be removed from its dedicated space, and the majority of its instruments placed in storage. A small subset of the instruments (19 out of 69) will be housed temporarily in the Stearns Building and accessible to students, but we have no firm assurance that even this small subset will be available after School of Music has completed its expansion.
Despite plans for the expansion of the School of Music building, we have not been guaranteed a space that will allow us to continue to provide the unique experiences and international connections for students throughout the university and Ann Arbor community as well as maintain the University of Michigan’s unique profile as one of the oldest and most distinguished of gamelan programs.
Expensive programs are now being put in place to promote “globalization” at the University, yet the gamelan program is in danger of disappearing because despite multiple searches throughout the university, a space cannot be found for it…
