At the beating heart of Balinese gamelan lies kotékan, the dazzling art of interlocking rhythm and melody that turns multiplicity into unity. In what musicians often call “the madness”, dozens of players weave rapid, syncopated fragments into a single, electrifying pulse. What seems chaotic at first becomes an intricate order, a living, breathing soundscape of balance, precision, and shared energy. This presentation delves into the sonic and cultural complexity of kotékan: how its layered structures express Balinese philosophies of cooperation (gotong royong), harmony (rwa bhineda), and vitality (bayu).

Through sound demonstrations and reflections on performance practice, Krishna reveals how kotékan embodies the collective mind of Balinese music, where individual voices dissolve into one rhythmic consciousness.

Krishna Sutedja

Krishna Sutedja is a Balinese composer, performer, and educator based in Belgium. Originally from Bali, he is the only native Balinese gamelan composer and teacher currently living in Europe. His artistic practice bridges Balinese gamelan and Western contemporary music, exploring rhythm, resonance, and intercultural dialogue. He has collaborated with leading composers and musicians across Europe and regularly presents performances, lectures, and workshops on Balinese music and culture.

What are ICTMD Talks?

ICTMD Talks are a series of courses on 4 different musical traditions and the culture from which they emerge. Each of the 4 sessions will be dedicated to a different musical style, repertoire and related area, presented by specialists from the world of music, academia or enthusiasts of the musical style in question. We will present a diversity of perspectives to discuss these musical traditions, highlighting the context of performance, the conditions of the musical tradition’s existence and the events that have marked its history. In a friendly atmosphere, seated in the foyer of the Espace Buen Vivir, participants will be able to exchange ideas after the specialist’s presentation.

In collaboration with ICTMD Belgium