The Faculty of Languages and Arts at Universitas Negeri Semarang (FBS UNNES) once again held its renowned cultural forum, Sarasehan Selasa Legen, now in its 117th edition. This session, themed “Gamelan Research Abroad,” featured a distinguished speaker, Prof. Sumarsam, Ph.D., the Winslow-Kaplan Professor of Music at Wesleyan University, United States.
The event took place on the evening of Monday, July 7, 2025, at UNNES Cultural Village, Sekaran, Gunungpati, Semarang, and was also livestreamed via the UNNES TV YouTube channel. The session was moderated by Lesa Paranti, a lecturer from the Faculty of Languages and Arts at UNNES.
Prof. Sumarsam’s visit to UNNES was not merely in the capacity of a guest speaker, but also marked a significant step in fostering international academic collaboration between FBS UNNES and Wesleyan University. This partnership encompasses visiting professorships and joint research initiatives in the fields of ethnomusicology and performing arts, aligning with UNNES’s broader internationalization strategy to advance globally oriented education and research.
In his presentation, Prof. Sumarsam offered a profound reflection on the historical dissemination of gamelan to the West and the evolution of its scholarly study within the discipline of ethnomusicology. He emphasized that gamelan is not only studied as a musical form (music in culture), but also as an integral cultural phenomenon (music as culture). Furthermore, he underlined how gamelan embodies a humanistic activity, encapsulating social, spiritual, and communal identities.
“In understanding gamelan, we are not merely concerned with instruments or playing techniques. We must also engage with its intrinsic space (physical space of origin) and extrinsic space (spiritual and cultural dimensions) where the music emerges and lives,” explained Prof. Sumarsam.
On this occasion, Prof. Sumarsam also symbolically presented a copy of his latest book to Universitas Negeri Semarang. The book, The In-Between in Javanese Performing Arts: History and Myth, Interculturalism, and Interreligiosity, offers an in-depth exploration of Javanese performing arts through the lenses of history, mythology, intercultural dialogue, and religious diversity.
The insightful discussion also covered various topics such as the dynamics of gamelan research, gamelan curricula at international universities, and the challenges of preserving local culture in a globalized context.
The Dean of FBS UNNES, Prof. Dr. Tommi Yuniawan, M.Hum., who was also present at the event, welcomed the initiative warmly.
“Events such as this strengthen UNNES’s role as a conservation-oriented university. Through intercultural dialogues like Selasa Legen, we cultivate values while opening new avenues for collaboration, especially with globally recognized scholars,” he remarked.
Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Widodo, Chair of the Selasa Legen Forum, emphasized that this edition’s theme aligns with UNNES’s commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) through intercultural learning and curriculum internationalization; SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) through the preservation of local arts and culture; and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaboration with global institutions.
Dr. Widodo further noted that the focus on gamelan research signifies a vital message, that cultural preservation must be accompanied by rigorous academic research and international networking.
“We hope this encourages students to realize that local culture holds a rightful place in global academic discourse,” he added.
This event stands as a testament to UNNES’s enduring commitment to promoting globally engaged conservation values while expanding the academic space for Indonesia’s cultural heritage,such as gamelan,to remain vibrant and relevant across generations and borders.
