Gamelan Gita Asmara
Putu Swaryandana Ichi Oka (Ryan)
In their first concert of 2026, Gamelan Gita Asmara presents the music of early 20th century Balinese composer Wayan Lotring alongside recent music by director and UBC DMA student Putu Swaryandana Ichi Oka (aka Ryan) . The concert opens with Garum, in a traditional style. The melodicism and rhapsodic surprises of Lotring’s 1920s morsel Gambangan pairs exceptionally well with Swaryandana’s Gambangan 2.0, which recomposes Lotring’s piece for the 21st century with quintuple rhythms and modal twists. Longitude II combines the reong gong-row instrument with a pair of saxophones, melding them through innovative Balinese approaches to rhythm. Sate Lilit’s multi-metric riffs, sudden modulations, and irregular grooves embody a contemporary spirit, but without leaving behind the tunefulness of canonical styles.
Founded in 2001, Gamelan Gita Asmara is Vancouver’s premiere Balinese Gamelan ensemble. A community group based at UBC, GGA has concertized yearly throughout the BC lower mainland area and the Gulf Islands. In 2013, they performed across Bali, bringing innovative musical offerings forged through long-term collaboration with Balinese artists back to their source. GGA’s former teachers include prominent Balinese composers Dewa Alit, Wayan Sudirana, and I Putu Gede Sukaryana (Balot).
Musicians: Jack Adams, Bruce Baghemil, Wendy Chen, Dave Dagta, Leonard Gao, Meris Goodman, Janam Jaswani, Nirmal Kaur, Colin MacDonald, Oscar Murakami-Smith, Risa Murakami-Smith, Sylvain Paradis, I Putu Swaryandana Ichi Oka, Paul Patko, Eshantha Peiris, Shruti Ramani, Bero Saker, John Marvin Scott, Michael Tenzer, Luke Vincent. Special guest musician: I Wayan Sudirana (UBC PhD 2013).
Gamelan Gita Asmara is grateful to the Vancouver Foundation for financial support this year, to the Dean of Arts Andrew Fellowship and the Dean of Arts offices for previous support, and to the UBC School of Music every year.
Program
Garum (2025) I Putu Swaryandana Ichi Oka (b. 1997)
Gambangan I Wayan Lotring (1883? – 1982)
Gambangan 2.0 (2026: premiere) I Putu Swaryandana Ichi Oka
Longitude II (2026: premiere) I Putu Swaryandana Ichi Oka
Colin MacDonald and Luke Vincent, saxophones
Sate Lilit (2024, rev. 2025) I Putu Swaryandana Ichi Oka
Tickets (also available at the door)
We are unable to accept cash at the door.
UBC Faculty and Staff
If you haven’t received a code, please contact dina.macdougall@ubc.ca or purchase tickets at the door and show your UBC ID.
