"An extraordinary series."—NYTimes

"Unlike orchestras, in which players show up with their instruments, the musicians come to the gamelan. Its assortment of bronze xylophones, gongs, drums and kettle-gongs are tuned and played as a group. It takes many years to learn to play the highly specialized instruments."—Chicago Sun-TimesThis "monumental and enjoyable series" (New York Times) documents the music of the Indonesian archipelago, introducing dozens of beautiful and varied musical styles from throughout this complex island nation. Guitars and gamelans, flutes and drums, voices and brass bands contribute to a musical treasure trove that covers the gamut from ancient to popular roots-based urban music. Each hour-long CD is extensively annotated to place the performances in their regional and national contexts.

"Music which could never before have been heard except by those few individuals who took the time and trouble to visit these mostly remote areas and had the good fortune to be able to witness the special occasions on which these pieces were normally performed…. One feels a kind of quiet joy in beholding this 20-disc compilation: first, because so much has been preserved, and second, because 'folk' music in Indonesia seems to be as active, prestigious, and vital a part of local cultures as it ever has been."—Journal of Southeast Asian Studies