Writing Silat (2009) was my quest in finding my ways in writing for gamelan. An Indonesian composer can write from a tradition, a Dutch composer can approach the ensemble as an addition to western percussion. I am both, or better neither. Silat is the result of my struggle to find my identity in between two cultures. To a Dutch composer, the work will sound quite traditional. To an Indonesian composer, it will sound a little less traditional. Silat was inspired by the Indonesian martial arts pencak silat. Body movements are derived from the movements and shapes of different animals and flowers. The piece introduces three cyclic themes and arranges them in three different orders, raising the tempo for each new order. Silat doesnt focus on the fighting aspects of pencak silat but on the more dance like performing part of these martial arts.