Asia+ Festival 2026 - Taksu – The Spirit of Gamelan

A soul-stirring dialogue of bronze and drums in ancient rhythm Malaysia’s celebrated Hands Percussion brings a rare cross-cultural dialogue to Hong Kong, where the thunderous pulse of Chinese shigu (lion dance drums) meets the sonorous, sweetly flowing resonance of Balinese and Malay gamelan percussion, weaving the coolness of metal and the warmth of drum skin. Widely regarded as one of the world’s musical treasures, gamelan was born in the royal courts and temples of Java and Bali over a thousand years ago. More than thirty sets of gamelan instruments, from shimmering bronze metallophones and gongs, to the Malaysian 24 Festive Drums rooted in Chinese drumming tradition, integrating with graceful Mak Yong dance and music, come together to reinvent gamelan into contemporary theatre. The striking contrast of bronze and animal skin evokes Taksu, an ancient Balinese belief in a sacred inner force that transforms art into something felt deep within the soul. For this special Hong Kong occasion, The Hong Kong Children’s Choir lends their voices to a gamelan reimagining of Jasmine Flower, one of the most beloved Chinese folk songs. Leave behind the city’s hustle and bustle, and let the music help you rediscover the vitality you have long missed.