Hospitality
26 Sep 2025
PROFOUND CONNECTION BETWEEN GAMELAN MUSIC AND THE COSMOLOGICAL SPATIAL ORGANIZATION OF THE JAVANESE AND INDONESIA CITIES
PROFOUND CONNECTION BETWEEN GAMELAN MUSICAND THE COSMOLOGICAL SPATIAL ORGANIZATION OF THE JAVANESE AND INDONESIA CITIES
This Seminar explores the profound connection between gamelan music and the cosmological spatial organization of the traditional Javanese city, particularly as manifested in the kraton (royal palace) and its surrounding urban fabric. Gamelan, as a sonic embodiment of Javanese metaphysics, operates not merely as musical performance but as a ritualized articulation of cosmic harmony. The structure, tuning, and cyclical nature of gamelan compositions reflect Javanese conceptions of time, balance, and spiritual order, mirroring the spatial layout of the kraton and its alignment with sacred geography. The kraton itself is designed as a microcosm of the universe, oriented along a north-south axis that connects Mount Merapi (symbolizing the realm of the gods) to the southern sea (associated with the spirit world). Within this axis, the placement of the kraton, alun-alun (public squares), mosques, markets, and cemeteries follows a cosmological logic that reinforces the ruler’s role as mediator between the divine and the earthly. Gamelan performances within the kraton—especially during court rituals, wayang kulit (shadow puppet theatre), and sekaten festivals—serve to activate and maintain this cosmic order. The instruments of the gamelan ensemble, crafted from bronze and wood, are imbued with symbolic meanings and are often treated as sacred objects. Their arrangement during performances reflects hierarchical and spatial principles akin to those found in the city’s layout. This study argues that gamelan music and Javanese urban cosmology are interdependent systems of meaning, each reinforcing the other through ritual, spatial orientation, and metaphysical symbolism. By examining this interplay, the discussion contributes to a deeper understanding of how sound and space coalesce in Javanese culture to produce a lived experience of cosmic harmony and sociopolitical order.
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Hubungan yang mendalam antara musik gamelan dan organisasi spasial kosmologis kota-kota Jawa dan Indonesia.
Seminar ini mengkaji keterhubungan yang mendalam antara musik gamelan dan organisasi spasial kosmologis kota tradisional Jawa, khususnya sebagaimana diwujudkan dalam kraton (keraton) dan struktur urban di sekitarnya.Gamelan, sebagai perwujudan sonik dari metafisika Jawa, tidak hanya berfungsi sebagai pertunjukan musik semata, melainkan sebagai artikulasi ritual dari harmoni kosmik. Struktur, sistem penalaan, dan sifat siklus dalam komposisi gamelan mencerminkan konsep Jawa tentang waktu, keseimbangan, dan tatanan spiritual, yang tercermin pula dalam tata ruang kraton dan keselarasan geografisnya yang sakral.Kraton dirancang sebagai mikrokosmos dari alam semesta, dengan orientasi poros utara-selatan yang menghubungkan Gunung Merapi (melambangkan alam para dewa) dengan Laut Selatan (yang diasosiasikan dengan dunia roh). Sepanjang poros ini, penempatan kraton, alun-alun, masjid, pasar, dan makam mengikuti logika kosmologis yang menegaskan peran raja sebagai perantara antara dunia ilahi dan dunia fana.Pertunjukan gamelan di dalam kraton—terutama dalam ritual kerajaan, pertunjukan wayang kulit, dan festival sekaten—berfungsi untuk mengaktifkan dan menjaga keteraturan kosmik tersebut. Instrumen gamelan yang terbuat dari perunggu dan kayu mengandung makna simbolis dan kerap diperlakukan sebagai benda sakral. Penataan instrumen saat pertunjukan mencerminkan prinsip hierarki dan spasial yang serupa dengan tata kota tradisional.Studi ini berargumen bahwa musik gamelan dan kosmologi urban Jawa merupakan dua sistem makna yang saling bergantung, saling menguatkan melalui ritual, orientasi ruang, dan simbolisme metafisik. Dengan menelaah keterkaitan ini, diskusi seminar ini memberikan pemahaman yang lebih mendalam tentang bagaimana suara dan ruang berpadu dalam budaya Jawa untuk menciptakan pengalaman hidup yang selaras secara kosmik dan tertata secara sosial-politik.
Presenter:Amalia LaurentFrench artist who lives and works between Paris and Nîmes. Her artistic practice explores themes of topography, geography, and cartography—both real and imagined. A PhD at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), focusing on the relationship between architecture and processional practices.
Jessika KenneyAn American experimental vocalist, composer, and teacher known for her deeply spiritual and transcultural approach to music. Her work blends avant-garde soundscapes with traditional vocal techniques from Persian and Javanese music, creating hauntingly immersive experiences.. California US, Expert of Javanese Sinden and Gamelan
Moderator:Bimo HernowoFormer I-ARCH Magazine European Correspondent, Member of ICOMOS the Netherlands, Founder of Societal Architects Association (SAA), PhD researcher Utrecht University & Researcher on the project of Traces of Power: Engineers Between Palaces and Fortifications (1746-1808), University of Sevilla, Spain.
Date: Saturday, 25 October 2025 ,Time: 16.00 WIB (Jakarta time) / 11:00 an CEST (Amsterdam time)Locations: Paris, Fukuoka, Amsterdam, Maastricht, Groningen, Utrecht, Rotterdam, Solo, Yogyakarta, Medan, Jakarta, Frankfurt & Boston.
Via ZOOMRegistration : https://shorturl.at/CRsxx(Registration will be closed on 24 October 2025, 24:00 WIB)
Organized and supported by :GUU Nederlands, MaastrichtSoeracarta Heritage Society, SurakartaRoemahToea, YogyakartaArchitecture Department, Universitas Katolik Santo Thomas, MedanArchitecture Department, Universitas Pancasila, JakartaArchitecture Department, North Sumatra University, MedanGroningen University, GroningenPhD candidate, Architectural History, Utrecht University, UtrechtRumah Budaya KratonanSocietal Architects Association
Contact Person WhatsApp: (The Netherlands: +31657273050 /Anne), (Indonesia: +6285743044087 /Aga Y.), Email: y.b.hernowo@uu.nl (Curator: Bimo Hernowo).
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/395868119_Profound_Connection_Between_Gamelan_Music_and_The_Cosmological_Spatial_Organization_of_the_Javanese_and_Indonesia_cities
