Gamelan Sampul: Laptop Sleeve Gamelan

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