My name is Pieter Duimelaar. I studied Cultural Anthropology at Leiden University in the Netherlands and, for obtaining my degree, did research on Balinese gamelan. Next to my study and work, I have been playing Javanese gamelan with Istika, the gamelan and dancing group connected to the Indonesian embassy in The Hague, Netherlands. In Bali I studied playing gamelan with Anak Agung Gede Raka Cameng (Ubud), Gusti Ngurah (Peliatan) and Wayan Tedun (Singapadu) in the late 1970's and early 1980's.
From 1977 until 2003 Putu Balimurni, my then wife, and I ran Diah Tantri, a group of dancers and musicians that performed the dances of South Bali. She, being a professional dancer from Bali, taught and trained the dancers. I was the founder, teacher and leader of the gamelan orchestra. Together we performed in Holland, Belgium and Germany.
When the marriage broke up, there was not much point in going on playing gamelan music - without dancers it is not half the fun. Although I have disbanded the orchestra and do not play any more, of course I still have this Semar Pegulingan, built by Made Gableran of Blahbatu.
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