ABSTRACT
The European encounter with the peoples of present-day Indonesia began in 1512 when the Portuguese sailed into a collection of islands ruled independently by various royal authorities such as the Srivijaya naval kingdom and the Majapahit kingdom. The Indonesian choral tradition may well have had its origins in Christian worship first brought by Franciscan missionaries in 1522 in Ternate. Catholic devotional traditions are still strong in regions such as eastern Flores in Larantuka, where, for example, a Bunda Maria musical-liturgical tradition several centuries old still incorporates choral singing. Since gamelan music is characterized by complex rhythmic layers and simultaneous melodic elaboration, one might suspect an impenetrable aural clutter obscuring all the intricacies and ruining any of gamelan’s trademark interlocking rhythms. Festivals and competitions are one of the primary means by which repertoire and performance conventions are circulated today. The growth of festivals may be a consequence of official support from the Indonesian Department of Culture and Education.
