Renowned Indonesian composer and performer Peni Candra Rini—described by David Harrington of Kronos Quartet as “one of the world’s greatest singers”—presents a concert of new music from Java featuring selections from her album Wulansih released July 12th, 2024 on New Amsterdam Records. Rini is a master of several traditional forms and is regarded as one of Indonesia’s most daring young composers, one of only a handful of female composers in the majority Muslim nation. She will be supported by Shahzad Ismaily, Andy McGraw, Curt Sydnor and other guests presenting new arrangements of her compositions on Wulansih, as well as her recent work commissioned by the Kronos Quartet and Carnegie Hall. The performance will also include selections of innovative Javanese shadow theater.
From New Amsterdam Records:
Wulansih is a small encyclopedia of Indonesian music. Rini explains: “The album mixes a wide range of materials, including traditional Javanese gamelan singing, Balinese chant, stringband music of the 1960s, and intercultural improvisations, bringing them all together through my contemporary compositional approach. We created experimental ensembles, and even experimental instruments and tunings to create an album that, whatever you think of it, sounds like nothing else.”
Peni Candra Rini vocals
Shahzad Ismaily multi-instrumentalist
Andy McGraw multi-instrumentalist
Curt Sydnor keyboards
Members of NYC’s Gamelan Kusuma Laras will also join in the concert.
A livestream will be available free of charge at 8pm on the day of the performance and archived for future viewing. Watch below or on YouTube.