Gamelan Cudamani (Bali gamelan music & dancing) (Indonesia)

May
1

Posted by UWWS
July 24, 2007

Video Summary:
"This 25-member music and dance company from Bali transports the audience into the life, rituals, and celebrations of an Indonesian village. Employing a rare semarandana orchestra, the gamelan musicians use seven tones instead of the traditional five to create rich and varied sounds and rhythms. The music, colorful costumes (including a spectacular dragon), and thoroughly engaging performers make Gamelan Çudamani a captivating experience for audiences of all ages."

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Here's some information about Bali from its Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located ...[in] the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east. It is one of the country's 33 provinces with the provincial capital at Denpasar towards the south of the island"...

2 comments

webmaster

Here's some information about gamelan music from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamelan

"A gamelan is a musical ensemble from Indonesia, typically from the islands of Bali or Java, featuring a variety of instruments such as metallophones, xylophones, drums and gongs; bamboo flutes, bowed and plucked strings. Vocalists may also be included.

The term refers more to the set of instruments than to the players of those instruments. A gamelan is a set of instruments as a distinct entity, built and tuned to stay together — instruments from different gamelan are generally not interchangeable.

The word "gamelan" comes from the Javanese word "gamels", meaning to strike or hammer, and the suffix "an", which makes the root a collective noun. Real hammers are not used to play these instruments as heavy iron hammers would break the delicate instruments.

The gamelan predates the Hindu-Buddhist culture that dominated Indonesia in its earliest records and instead represents a native art form. The instruments developed into their current form during the Majapahit Empire.[1] In contrast to the heavy Indian influence in other art forms, the only obvious Indian influence in gamelan music is in the Javanese style of singing

In Javanese mythology, the gamelan was created by Sang Hyang Guru in Saka era 167 (c. AD 230), the god who ruled as king of all Java from a palace on the Maendra mountains in Medangkamulan (now Mount Lawu). He needed a signal to summon the gods and thus invented the gong. For more complex messages, he invented two other Gongs, thus forming the original gamelan set.}...

webmaster

Selected viewer comments from http://www.youtube.com/comment_servlet?all_comments&v=2EXzfpS6WK4

SiKedek (April 2009) I think what sets this apart from the original Taruna Jaya is the kebyar section - it's a study of both united melodic brilliance and silence.

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justlevin (April 2008) Superbe dancer, and talented musicians (though the extra hand/body gestures were at times a bit overdone, a bit cheesy, to my taste esp the beginning part, these used to be cool but now evrybody's doing them evrytime). I also think the dancer's flirting part w drummer is not very fitting.
I still prefer the orginal version of Terunajaya, however one wants to name it, but as a performance, it is awesome!!

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SiKedek (April 2008) "I also think the dancer's flirting part w drummer is not very fitting"
Well, there is a reason why this is called Taruna *Gandrung*... And don't forget that the original Taruna Jaya also has the flirting pengipuk section - it's just that most groups leave it out nowadays - a shame, really.

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justlevin (April 2008) If gandrung translates to being crazy in love then, since the story tells about a young adolescent male (a teruna not a pemuda), the part would not even be appropriate. The flirting part actually alrdy existed in Kebyar Duduk/Trompong as seen in an old film of Kebyar Trompong dated 1976. The old audio recording of Terunajaya from Sayan (North Bali) also didnt include it. Since the North style (where Terunajaya originated) is more 'keras', it is posible that the flirting part was added later.

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chandanatha (April 2009) What part that you think is not fitting ? why ? be more specific....
This piece is originally called Wiranjaya, but when Bapak I Wayan Gandra taught us (Cudamani) this piece on 2001, he named it "kebyar gandrung". 1 year ago chandanatha Which part is not fitting? in terms of what (melody, togetherness, or what?) why?
be more specific.....
This piece is originally called Wiranjaya (from north Bali/Buleleng). When Pak Gandra taught this piece to Cudamani on 2001, he named it "Kebyar Gandrung".

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bearberry842 ( February 2010) I thought this dance is called kebyar gandrung. is kebyar gandrung just taruna jaya from ubud?

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tolong ( February 2010) SiKedek Yes, this is known as both Taruna Gandrung and Kebyar Gandrung. This was retooled by Pak Gandra (alm) from the original dance from North Bali called "Wiranjaya" (?)

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Spidergem1 (March 2010) hello i love this type of dance
may i ask why the dancer is praying to the bargong in the beginning of the dance?
i am just curous
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uclacip1 (March 2010) The Barong is a benevolent protector, they bring blessings to the village and members of the community. The Barong mask is not simply an aesthetic master piece. The Barong connects us to the spirit world.... and this gives comfort to everyone... so in the temple ceremony, Barong is honored with offerings and prayer.

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