Bali at Vancouver’s Expo 86
For the 1986 World Exposition in Vancouver, the government brings four gamelans to Canada for its pavilion: three Balinese gamelans and one Javanese gamelan.

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During the Expo, several concerts showcase the instruments. Groups of Indonesian musicians come to play them, and a concert is also organized with Gamelan Sekar Jaya from San Francisco, one of the first Balinese gamelan groups outside Bali. During this period, composer José Evangelista works to persuade the Indonesian government to donate the instruments to Canadian universities after the Expo. Thanks to his efforts, Université de Montréal receives the three Balinese gamelans the following year—gong kebyar, angklung and beleganjur/gambuh—while the Javanese gamelan is donated to Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.



















































































