The Faculty of Languages and Arts (FBS) at UNNES recently held its 117th Sarasehan Selasa Legen event. Carrying the theme “Gamelan Research Abroad,” this cultural forum featured a special speaker, Professor Sumarsam, Ph.D., Winslow-Kaplan Professor of Music at Wesleyan University in the United States.
The event took place on the evening of Monday, July 7, 2025, at the Kampung Budaya FBS UNNES in Sekaran, Gunungpati, Semarang, and was also broadcast live on the UNNES TV YouTube channel. The event was moderated by Lesa Paranti, S.Pd., M.A., a lecturer from the Faculty of Languages and Arts at UNNES.
Professor Sumarsam’s presence at UNNES was not just as a speaker for the sarasehan; he was also there to strengthen international collaboration between FBS UNNES and Wesleyan University. This collaboration will involve a visiting professorship and research partnerships in ethnomusicology and performing arts. This initiative is also part of UNNES’s internationalization strategy to promote globally-minded education and research.
In his presentation, Professor Sumarsam shared deep reflections on the history of gamelan’s spread to the West and the evolution of its research within the discipline of ethnomusicology. He explained how gamelan is studied not just as a form of music (music in culture), but also as an integral part of culture itself (music as culture). Furthermore, gamelan is understood as a human activity reflecting the social, spiritual, and identity values of its society.
“In understanding gamelan, we don’t just talk about the instruments or playing techniques, but also delve into the intrinsic space and extrinsic space where the music grows and lives,” said Professor Sumarsam.
On the same occasion, Professor Sumarsam also symbolically presented his latest book to UNNES. Titled “The In-Between in Javanese Performing Arts: History and Myth, Interculturalism, and Interreligiosity,” this book is his newest work that deeply explores Javanese performing arts within the framework of history, myth, interculturalism, and interreligiosity.
The lively discussion also covered the dynamics of gamelan research, gamelan curriculum in foreign universities, and the challenges of preserving local culture in the international arena.
Professor Dr. Tommi Yuniawan, M.Hum., Dean of FBS UNNES, who was also present, warmly welcomed the forum.
“Activities like this strengthen UNNES’s position as a conservation campus. Through cross-cultural dialogues like Selasa Legen, we instill values while also opening up opportunities for collaboration, especially with globally recognized experts,” he stated.
Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Widodo, Head of the Selasa Legen Forum, conveyed that this theme reinforces UNNES’s direction in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 4 (Quality Education) through cross-cultural learning and curriculum internationalization, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by preserving local art and culture, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaborations with global institutions.
Dr. Widodo also noted that the theme of this gamelan research highlights a crucial point: cultural preservation must be closely tied to scientific research and international networking.
“We hope students become more aware that local culture also has a place in international studies,” he added.
This activity is a tangible manifestation of UNNES’s commitment to upholding a globally oriented conservation spirit, while simultaneously expanding the academic space for Indonesian cultural heritage, such as gamelan, ensuring it remains vibrant and relevant across generations and nations.
Source: https://unnes.ac.id/sarasehan-selasa-legen-gamelan-dalam-perspektif-global-oleh-prof-sumarsam/
Translated by: Dafele Arozal/Student Staff Humas FBS UNNES
