Suwitra Jaya perform with the UNSW Gamelan ensemble and the Sydney Guitar ensemble.
In a groundbreaking fusion of Spanish guitar and Balinese gamelan, East-West Resonance celebrates an ongoing sonic dialogue between diverse musical cultures.
The virtuosic Sydney Guitar Collective will join forces with Suwitra Jaya Gamelan for this world-first collaboration, showcasing Western compositions inspired by 'the East', right alongside Eastern compositions inspired by 'the West'.
Guitar strings meet suspended gongs in this extraordinary concert, where the intricate interlocking patterns (kotekan) of Balinese gamelan interweave with the harmonic complexity of classical guitar. The performance features the works of superstar international guitarists William Kanengiser (USA) and I Wayan Balawan (Indonesia), a new work by emerging Sydney composer Eitan Muir, and the music of Balinese master composer I Gusti Ngurah Adi Putra (Indonesia), reimagined for guitars and gamelan in new arrangements.
Co-produced by Dr Janet Agostino (Artistic Director, Sydney Guitar Collective), Dr Manolete Mora (Director, Suwitra Jaya Gamelan) and Tobias Dracoulis, East-West Resonance pays homage to the tradition of cross-cultural musical dialogue, and we are invited to reflect: How do these cross-cultural compositions deepen our understanding of each other's musical heritage, and what new possibilities for artistic expression might emerge from this ongoing dialogue?
PROGRAM
Phillip Glass (arr. Tobias Dracoulis) - Opening from Glassworks (1981)
William Kanengiser - Gongan (1997)
I Wayan Balawan - What's in Bali Today? (What's Left in Bali?)
Eitan Muir - Ngubeng (2025) *World Premiere
Commissioned by Sydney Guitar Collective
I Gusti Ngurah Adi Putra
Sumpah (arr. Manolete Mora)
Kaja-kaja (arr. Tobias Dracoulis)
Melasti (arr. Tobias Dracoulis)
About Sydney Guitar Collective
The Sydney Guitar Collective was established in early 2023 to provide a platform for guitar ensemble performances for young, motivated musicians who met through their studies at UNSW.
Under the leadership of Dr Janet Agostino, the Collective brings a diverse repertoire to their performances and aims to expand this predominantly Australian repertoire through commissioning new works from colleagues and associates.
The Collective acknowledges the significant support and sponsorship from Dr. Simon Powis of Classical Guitar Corner, to whom we are enormously grateful.
About Suwitra Jaya Gamelan
Based at UNSW Kensington, Suwitra Jaya is a community Balinese gamelan (metallophone orchestra). Led by Dr Manolete Mora, Suwitra Jaya creates striking performances that highlight cross-cultural collaborations and reflect the ongoing connection between Indonesia and Australia.
Recent highlights include the 2025 Common Ground tour with Steel City Strings, a performance at the 2024 Festival of The Winds with dancers Ambara Jaya Kaswara and Ayu Linda Gayatri, and a collaboration with dancer Sisca Haskew and tabla player Maharshi Raval at the 2023 National Multicultural Festival.
Suwitra Jaya Gamelan maintains close ties with Sanggar Bona Alit in Gianyar, Bali. The name Suwitra Jaya, meaning Noble Friendship, was given to us by Alit I Gusti Ngurah Adi Putra.
This event is presented by the School of the Arts & Media and Suwitra Jaya, with assistance from the Esme Timbery Creative Practice Lab.