Our student Balinese Gamelan Ensemble, directed by Andy Channing, performs a concert of the beautiful music of the Indonesian percussion orchestra.
Please note, this event is free to attend, but seats are limited, so please do sign up to attend, via the 'register now' button above.
Unlike the Western orchestra, in which percussion instruments often play a supportive role, the Balinese gamelan orchestra consists almost entirely of tuned bronze gongs and metallophones. These produce a fast and dynamic music, with complex interlocking melodic and rhythmic patterns punctuated by sonorous gongs.
The style of gamelan you will hear in this performance is Gong Kebyar. Kebyar means "to flare up", in reference to the sudden and exhilarating changes in tempo and dynamic which characterise the style. It originated in North Bali around 1915 through experimentation with traditional forms and styles. It came to dominate musical life in Bali for the remainder of the 20th century and now accompanies many kinds of dance performance.
The sumptuous and decorative set being played in this performance was made in 1998 by I Made Gabeleran of Blahbatuh, Bali and is elaborately carved with floral patterns, guardian demons and scenes from the Ramayana epic. This set, named Lila Cita ("Amusement of the Heart"), is owned by Xerxes Mazda and is tuned to a 5-note subset of the 7-tone pelog scale.
City is the home of several regional varieties of gamelan, including Balinese, Sundanese and Javanese sets. Our Javanese ensemble will also be performing a lunchtime concert on 31st March 2022.
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