【2026】The State of World Music Now: Introducing Masterpieces to Enjoy Diverse Musical Cultures

Babar Layar

Gendhing Babar Layar

This is a captivating work with a grand and solemn resonance that evokes setting sail across the open sea.

Originating from the Javanese court in Indonesia, this music carries the theme of “hoisting the sails and departing,” and is imbued with a sacred atmosphere like a rite of a new beginning.

The serene waves of sound woven by bronze percussion instruments and the mysterious melodies of the pelog scale intertwine in a complex structure that transports listeners to another dimension.

It’s perfect for calming the mind and focusing, or as a companion for a leisurely evening—you’ll find yourself drawn into its profound allure.

Kodok Ngorek

Sarwo Laras – Kodok Ngorek [Traditional Music]

This is a historic form of gamelan music that has been performed in sacred Javanese court rituals since the 12th century.

The piece is tied to a mythic episode that traces the origin of the music to the croaking of frogs, and the overlapping resonance of bronze percussion instruments evokes a chorus of frogs echoing across rice fields at night.

Its weighty, cyclical rhythms and the solemn sonority produced by a distinctive three-tone structure—including instruments like the kempyang and ketuk (bell-tree type)—have the power to draw listeners into a meditative, otherworldly space.

The work is included on releases such as the 1971 LP “Java: Historic Gamelans,” and has traditionally been performed with great care only at official ceremonies such as royal coronations.

It’s a recommended number for moments when you want to step away from daily life and quiet your mind, or immerse yourself in a richly exotic soundscape.

Laler Mengeng

Gending LALER MENGENG minggah Ladrang TLUTUR, kalajengaken Ketawang SUBAKASTAWA Sl.9

This piece, “Laler Mengeng,” is considered a classical work of unknown authorship handed down from long ago, and its English title, “The Buzzing Fly,” which conveys the sense of a fly buzzing or the sound of a fly’s wings, is also highly intriguing.

Of course, the title is not expressed literally in the music; rather, it seems to create an ominous or eerie image as a kind of metaphor.

Although it was reportedly used as court music, it later spread among the general populace, and many celebrated performances emerged as it became a staple repertoire piece of classical gamelan music.

Rangsang Tuban

TARI TOPENG LENGGER RANGSANG TUBAN

This is a classical piece of Central Javanese gamelan that has long been handed down in the royal courts of Indonesia.

Built on a relaxed 16-beat cycle, its great appeal lies in the interplay between the mysterious resonance of bronze percussion and the graceful melodies of the bowed rebab.

Although it is an instrumental work, it is layered with the legend of the two princes of the Kingdom of Tuban, lending narrative depth to its majestic sonic world.

The dynamic progression—from tranquil sections to an accelerating surge cued by the drums—is breathtaking, transporting listeners to another dimension.

A recording performed at the Yogyakarta Palace in December 1982 is known as a representative source, and the piece is also widely used to accompany regional dance.

It’s a perfect work for forgetting the everyday and immersing yourself in a grand story.

Ujan Mas

[BALI] Ujan Mas (Yama Sari) [GAMELAN]

A piece by the Gunung Sari ensemble, a traditional Indonesian group known worldwide that gave its first overseas performance in 1931.

True to its title, which means “Golden Rain,” the piece evokes, as if in sound, a vision of divine blessings pouring down—an exquisite world-building.

The vivid, intense rhythms characteristic of the Gong Kebyar style and the soul-stirring, plaintive melodies intertwine in a captivating contrast.

Composed in the 1950s by I Wayan Gandera, the piece became widely known after being included on the 1969 album “Golden Rain: Music of Bali.” It’s the perfect number for stepping away from everyday life and freeing your spirit in another dimension.

GeneticDewa Alit & Gamelan Salukat

Dewa Alit & Gamelan Salukat – Genetic

A signature piece by Gamelan Salukat, led by Indonesian composer Dewa Alit, who continues an innovative quest rooted in tradition.

First introduced abroad in May 2020, this work is remarkable for the way its bronze percussion resonates with a timbre that feels almost electronic.

From the exchange of complex rhythms that breaks the silence to the overwhelming section where the entire ensemble rings as if it were one giant zither, the development is stunning.

The theme of “genetics” embedded in this piece speaks to the will to inherit tradition while creating new music.

Premiered in Europe at a Dutch music festival in April 2022, it’s a number drawing worldwide attention.

If you’re seeking a thrilling musical experience beyond the bounds of tradition, this is a must-listen.

CendrawasihI Nyoman Windha

111112 concert: 05. Tari Cendrawasih by I Nyoman Windha

A gamelan work by Indonesian composer I Nyoman Windha, renowned for bringing innovation to Bali’s traditional music.

Taking the bird-of-paradise as its theme, the piece vividly portrays a mated pair’s graceful dancing and playful vitality through music.

It brilliantly fuses the shimmering sonorities of bronze percussion with flowing melodic lines influenced by Western music.

Created in 1987 as a collaboration with I Wayan Bratha, it was first performed as a Balinese dance piece in February 1988.

You can hear it on albums such as Gamelan Tunas Mekar’s “Kembali Ke Bali.” It’s a perfect track for immersing yourself in a grand, mystical sound world or stepping away from the everyday to free your mind.