MUSIC OF INDONESIA: Balinese gamelan

BALI: east of Java, an island half the size of Delaware (2.5 million pop.)

Religion: Hindu, mixed with ancient ancestor worship

Balinese Hinduism demands artistic practice as a part of worship.

Music, dance and art embedded in religious ritual

Music accompanies ritual stages of life cycle: birth, death (cremation)

Development of gamelan in Bali:

Gamelan originated in court system (similar to Java)

Late 19^th century: court gamelan ceased with the dissolution of royal power.

Early 20^th century: gamelan “renaissance” began in villages.

20^th century: increasing tourism and new musical styles.

Features of Balinese gamelan

Similarities to Java:

Stratified polyphony

Colotomic structure

Main melody (like Javanese balungan)

Differences from Java:

“Shimmering” instrumental tuning

Interlocking or hocketing patterns (kotekan)

Abrupt changes in tempo and loudness

CD example 18. Gamelan Semar Pegulingan – Tabuh Gari

CD example 19. Gamelan Gong Suling - Palawakia

Gamelan featuring bamboo flutes (suling)

Reflects 20^th century gamelan style: kebyar (lit. “explosion”)

CD example 20. Gamelan Jegog - Jayan Tangis

All-bamboo gamelan ensemble

CD example 21. Kecak

“Vocal gamelan” (gamelan suara)

Colotomic parts and main melody produced entirely by voice.

20^th century theatrical form developed for tourist shows.