Swara Naga's History

The Music Department took delivery of an iron pelog gamelan in 1978. It was made in a village near Solo in central Java in 1977. Classes in gamelan began in earnest and have been held weekly since that time. Out of those classes a concert gamelan group, Swara Naga was formed in 1981 from the keenest members and included students, staff of UNE and the general public - including Indonesian nationals. Swara Naga has always been heavily involved in touring and concert-giving throughout the region and occasionally travels interstate for special events and functions. Less frequently study trips to Java and Bali are undertaken. The following text outlines some of the major events in the Group's colourful history.

Some Highlights of the Group’s Activities

1990: Swara Naga was invited to play at the official opening of the first pendopo (traditional Javanese building) in Australia (at Flinders University, Adelaide).

1993: Study tour to Java and Bali
Production with Pak Poedijono of a 30 min. video/TV programme: Introducing the Gamelan Music of Java

1995: Four performances in Canberra for the World Conference of the International Council for Traditional Music (ICTM).
Hosted the first national gamelan festival in Armidale.

1997: Swara Naga gave four concerts in Singapore at the Asian Festival of Performing Arts. The concerts included an original ‘fusion’ piece specially composed by David Goldsworthy for this event(for slendro gamelan and rock trio - sax, bass guitar and drum kit) .

1998: An appearance on ‘The Today Show’, performances at Woodford Folk Festival, and the production of Swara Naga’s first CD recording which includes several original ‘fusion’ compositions by group members.

1999: Performances at ‘Beat’, an international Gamelan festival in Wellington, New Zealand.

2002: Three night performances at the amphitheatre for the Arts Festival celebrating the opening of the new Esplanade Arts Centre in Singapore. The group proceeded to Bandung, Indonesia to start recording their new album in Jugala Studios.

2003: Lunchtime concert for the Conservatorium of Music, Newcastle, two performances at conferences in Canberra and Armidale, and a major performance for the Griffith Uni. ‘Jammin’ Festival in Brisbane.

2004: Asian music and Dance Festival, Sydney Opera House

2004/5:Several performances at Woodford Folk Festival

2005: Performances at Darling Harbour, Sydney, for Festival of Indonesia, and at NIDA Theatre in Sydney for the West Java Exhibition. Performances at Indonesian arts festival in Byron Bay.