Moondog for Gamelan

Featuring instruments built especially for the occasion, this performance takes gamelan out of its traditional context, taking on the experimental compositions of Moondog. Almost Minimalist in its construction, the influential outsider musician’s melodies resonate amid the controlled chaos of gamelan. Leading the ensemble is Gunawan, a contemporary gamelan composer known for combining tradition with the use of electronics, and Lakatos, an old friend of Moondog who performs using a homemade percussion instrument given to him by the composer. 

Few musicians are the source of as much intrigue as Moondog. A blind man from Kansas transplanted to NYC, he dressed as a Viking and chose to live on the streets. His compositions reflect his experiences of hearing his way through the city – motifs borrowed from Jazz, Classical and Native American music unwind over the constant beating of a tom-tom drum, like the thumping of a subway train. Support tonight comes from Steve Lawson & Corey Mwamba.