Ensemble History: Music of Java Ensemble

The Music of Java Performance Group was formed in the mid 1950s when Mantle Hood began teaching gamelan in his home.  In May 1960, they performed in the “Festival of Oriental Music and the Related Arts,” presented by the UCLA Music Department, with Mantle Hood as director and Hardja Susilo as dancer. The group remained an extra-curricular “study group” until the 1964-65 academic year, when the course Music 45H/145H (Music and Dance of Java) was offered for the first time. Instructors of the Music of Java Ensemble include: Mantle Hood (1960-74); Hardja Susilo (1967-71); KRT Wasitodipuro (1977-79); Nanik Wenten (77-79); Sue Carole De Vale (1983-93); I Nyoman Wenten (1998-01); Djoko Walujo (1993-95 and 2004-05).

Hardja Susilo playing Javanese rebab Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive	Mantle Hood standing in front of Javanese gamelan Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive
Sue Carole De Vale with students on the Javanese gamelan. Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive	Hardja Susilo teaching Javanese gamelan Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive
Mantle Hood teaching Javanese rebab Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive	Ann Briegleb playing Javanese gamelan Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive
Javanese gamelan student with Mantle Hood in the background Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive	Music of Java Ensemble Photo: Courtesy Ethnomusicology Archive
Djoko Walujo (2004) Photo: Donna Armstrong	Music of Java Ensemble at the Hammer Museum (2005) Photo: Donna Armstrong