This year, we were doubly lucky: we got to play at the cultural celebrations at the Ambassador’s residence, and we got to debut our new outfits, graciously gifted to us by the Indonesian Embassy. We were a hit!

After playing, we spent many minutes posing for photographs and talking to Indonesians living in Ottawa and the surrounding area. It was especially gratifying to talk to people from Bali and to find out that we sound pretty good to their ears.

Thanks to Robert. S Vibert for taking such great photos of the group!

What do you think of the new outfits?

Part 1:

Part 2:

Semara Winangun is proud to be part of the Month of Silence Film Festival at the Mayfair Theatre. Moreover, we sure are excited to be playing the soundtrack for Legong: Dance of the Virgins, a film actually set in Bali! This film was released in 1935 and contains some, shall we say, National Geographic style nudity.

We couldn’t think of a better way to spend a Monday evening and hope that you’ll join us. Following our show, you can catch the HILOTRONS playing the soundtrack for The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

Here are the details, taken from the original press release.

LEGONG: DANCE OF THE VIRGINS (1935) Monday October 18. | Doors: 6:00 PM | Show: 7:00 PM Shot on location in Bali, this tale of a young woman who falls in love with a musician who has designs on her half-sister was the last film made using the two-strip Technicolor process. We add more colour with a live, original score by Gamelan Semara Winangun. $10 members, students and seniors | $15 non-members

THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI (1919) Monday, October 18 | Doors: 7:30 PM | Show: 8:15 PM The ultimate act of expressionist filmmaking, Caligari tells its tale – of a hypnotist who uses a somnambulist to do his murders – on the underside of a tightrope stretched between dreams and reality. Featuring a suitably dreamy live, original musical score by HILOTRONS. $10 members, students and seniors | $15 non-members

More information:

Month of Silence descends as Mayfair Theatre’s Silents is Golden screening series presents nine classic silent films with LIVE MUSIC SCORES This October, the Mayfair Theatre’s ongoing Silents is Golden screening series takes over as we present our Month of Silence Film Festival! The festival features a Silent Horror Film Festival (bringing back favourites from last year), a tribute to Canadian film pioneer Nell Shipman, a children’s matinee and BBQ, and an international silent film spotlight – all to the ORIGINAL MUSIC OF LOCAL COMPOSERS AND BANDS!

Tickets and festival passes on sale now at the Mayfair box office!

First up, at 1pm on Saturday May 22nd, you can see us play on the International Friendship Stage at Major’s Hill Park. We are performing a traditional Indonesia dance piece as well as a very new piece composed by our own group! This is the last weekend of the Tulip Festival so come out and enjoy the festivities — admission to Major’s Hill Park is free and there will be other interesting performances on the International Friendship Stage all day long.

Where: Major’s Hill Park
When: Saturday, May 22nd from 1-15pm
How Much: Free!

On May 29th, we share the stage with many other Asian-Canadian performer as part of the Museum of Civilization’s Eighth Annual Asian Heritage Gala. The event is billed as as “East meets West in a fusion of the traditional and the contemporary in a concert featuring many exceptional Asian-Canadian performers.”

Where: Museum of Civilization Theatre
When: Saturday, May 29th from 7:30-10:30pm
How Much: Tickets for this performance are 25$ and are available at the Museum of Civilization Box Office.

Hope to see you at one or both of these gigs!

May is generally quite a busy time for Semara Winangun, and this month is no exception. We have no fewer than three gigs this month and hope that you will be able to catch one or more of them.

The fun begins on May 16th, when we take the stage as guests of the Cantata Singers of Ottawa. Join us for a musical journey through the Far East including choral and instrumental works from China, Indonesia, Korea, the Philippines, and other countries.

You can find the full details on the Cantata Singers’ website but here are the essentials:

Asian Soundscape
A Journey Through the Far East
Sunday May 16th, 2010 @ 3pm
Christ Church Cathedral, Sparks and Bronson
Tickets are $25 for adults ($20 if purchased early) and $10 for students.

We are excited to announce our first gig of the year: in support of Matt Ouimet and his new CD Oh Jesus, we will take the stage at the Elmdale House Tavern. Our 30-minute set will feature some of our more energetic tunes.

The Elmdale House has become a hotspot for great Ottawa music in the last couple of years and this coming Saturday will be no exception!

Details:
What: Matt Ouimet CD Release, featuring Semara Winangun, the Golden Seals, and Steve Durand
When: Saturday January 16th @ 9:30pm
Where: Elmdale House Tavern – 1084 Wellington St. West
How much: Cover is 8$ at the door

Phantom of the Opera 
(1926)
Friday, October 16 @ 7 pm

Score composed by Mark Molnar and performed by the intense experimental instrumental mini orchestra Kingdom Shore.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
 (1920)
Friday, October 16 @ 9 pm

Featuring a suitably dreamy live, original musical score composed by Mike Dubue and performed by HILOTRONS.

F.W. Murnau’s Faust
 (1926)
Friday, October 23 @ 7 pm

Featuring a live, original musical score by Ottawa retro-instrumental sensation, The Flaps.

Nosferatu
 (1922)
Friday, October 23@ 9:30 pm

A true symphony of horror! Murnau’s classic vampire film rises from the grave once again with a live, original musical score composed by Mike Dubue and performed by the Mayfair Theatre Orchestra and Semara Winangun. New, restored print!

ADMISSION
Members, seniors and students: $15
Non-members: $20
Festival passes (members only): $50
Advance tickets and limited festival passes are on sale now!

All screenings take place at the Mayfair Theatre, 1074 Bank St. (at Sunnyside).

As usual, sparks will fly and new sounds will be heard for the first time. Both groups will have a chance to play independently as well as with each other, culminating in the world premiere of Rory Magill’s recently completed Hybridge suite.

Here are the quick details:

When: Tuesday, October 27 at 7:30pm
Where: NAC 4th Stage
How much? 22$ for adults, 15$ for students

This show is presented by the Ottawa Jazz Festival. You can find out how to get tickets here: http://ottawajazzfestival.com/e/artists/2010/rorymagill.html

To whet your appetite, here is a sample of some of the things that happened the last time we met:

If you have yet to see our version of Nosferatu (the film is silent and, along with the Mayfair Theatre Orchestra, we perform the soundtrack live), you will have a couple more chances. The first is coming up August 28th as part of Wakefest 2009!

You can read more about the show here

We will also be doing two performances of the piece in October as part of a silent film festival at the Mayfair Theatre. More details to follow!