Gamelan Sampul: Laptop Sleeve Gamelan

The Gamelan Sampul is a laptop sleeve with embedded circuitry that allows users to practice playing Javanese gamelan instruments without a full set of instruments. It is part of a larger project that aims to develop a set of portable and mobile tools for learning, recording and performing classical Javanese gamelan music. The accessibility of a portable Javanese gamelan set introduces the musical genre to audiences who have never experienced this traditional music before, passing down long established customs to future generations. But it also raises the question of what is and what isn’t appropriate to the musical tradition. The Gamelan Sampul attempts to introduce new technology to traditional folk music while staying sensitive to cultural needs.