‘I hope our studio can become a centre for traditional music that meets the needs of heritage enthusiasts from various segments of society,’ says Teuku Umar Ilany. Photo: Bernama
Gangsapura Gamelan Studio, located in Kuala Lumpur's vibrant Bukit Bintang district, brings the enchanting sounds of traditional gamelan music right to the city's core.
Located on the 8th floor of the GMBB creative mall, this newly-opened studio invites visitors on a nostalgic journey through the rich cultural heritage of gamelan music, offering both performances and immersive classes.
The studio features an array of traditional instruments, including keromong, gambang, saron, gong, gendang, and kenong.
For ambiance, its walls are decorated with red songket designs (on the soundproofing panels), adding cultural heritage to the venue.
Gamelan music, an ensemble instrumental genre, has a rich history dating back to 1811 in the Malay Peninsula. This studio provides a unique opportunity for urbanites to connect with and master the intricate rhythms and harmonies of these age-old instruments.
Gangsapura Gamelan Studio founder Teuku Umar Ilany Teuku Iskandar, 35, also has another reason for opening the studio – to introduce the heritage music to tourists as the Bukit Bintang area is a popular destination for visitors to the capital city.
The classes at Gangsapura Gamelan Studio are divided into three levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced. Photo: Bernama
He added there is also no truth that gamelan music is difficult to learn or youths are not interested in it.
“The response from youths has been very encouraging, to the point where we have to allocate five slots a week for classes to meet the demand. Those interested in learning can also have their classes scheduled according to their convenience,” he said.
A passionate team
Gamelan is said to have originated from Indonesia’s Riau-Lingga sultanate around the 17th century before being brought to Pekan, Pahang, in conjunction with a royal wedding that involved the Riau-Lingga and Pahang sultanates.
Teuku Umar Ilany, who is also a lecturer at the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (Aswara), runs this studio with his wife Nur Diyana Nadirah Shaharuddin, 31, and assisted by Ahmad Syamiem Mohd Sukarno, 28, who has 16 years of experience serving as a gamelan music instructor.
The classes are divided into three levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced. The studio also conducts trial sessions for children aged seven.
Gamelan, says Teuku Umar Ilany, involves oral teaching methods, with students learning to play an instrument through listening, observing, imitating and repeating. Photo: Bernama
When asked how long it takes to become proficient in gamelan music, Teuku Umar Ilany quickly replied, “It depends on the individual.”
“Like other forms of music, it requires continuous practice to master the instruments. However, gamelan is different as it does not have theoretical books commonly used when learning other musical instruments such as the piano.”
Gamelan, he explained, involves oral teaching methods, with students learning to play an instrument through listening, observing, imitating and repeating.
“The same process is followed for different playing techniques, depending on the instrument they are learning to play,” he said, adding students attending classes at his studio also get to learn to play different instruments.
Teuku Umar Ilany said his interest in music began at the age of 12 when his parents made him participate in a programme at Istana Budaya in Kuala Lumpur.
Gangsapura recently held a gamelan performance at The Grey Box in the GMBB creative mall, Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Bernama
He learned to play gamelan music formally at a secondary school, which offered traditional music classes.
The team members behind Gangsapura Gamelan Studio faced challenging times before their plan to open a studio to “share their passion and knowledge in this cultural art” became a reality two months ago.
“Before this studio was opened, we had been renting spaces since 2016 to conduct our classes. Not only that, we also had to rent the musical instruments. There were times when our costs would come to thousands of ringgit,” he said.
Teuku Umar Ilany is also a member of a gamelan group called Gangsapura, established in 2016. It has built a loyal following through standalone shows and performances at arts festivals and cultural events.
Its performances at KLPac and the Malaysia Tourism Centre brought it recognition, ultimately leading to a grant last year under the Creative Kuala Lumpur Creative Grants Programme.
The keromong, a pivotal gong instrument used in a gamelan ensemble. Photo: Bernama
He explained that the grant was instrumental in equipping Gangsapura Gamelan Studio, enhancing its capabilities and offerings.
Additionally, the creative space benefited from personal donations by individuals passionate about preserving the nation’s traditional music heritage.
“I hope our studio can become a centre for traditional music that meets the needs of heritage enthusiasts from various segments of society.
"Our goal is for gamelan music to be preserved and elevated to a higher level so that it does not fade away in the future,” said Teuku Umar Ilany. — Bernama
