Religious Affairs Office

The legong is a type of traditional Balinese dance accompanied by a gamelan, the traditional percussion ensemble of the Indonesian islands of Java and Bali. The gamelan musical ensemble is generally used to accompany religious or social events, theatre performances or dancing. Both have been the subject of study in the fields of musicology, dance and the arts in general. These art forms have deep roots in Balinese culture, and reflect both the island’s history and its world view. The legong and gamelan not only serve as forms of aesthetic expression, but also as vehicles for the transmission of cultural, spiritual and social values. Both can be understood through the concepts of ‘rituality’ and ‘sacredness’. In Balinese culture, music and dance are essential channels for connecting with the divine.

Legong dates back to the 16th century, and according to Balinese tradition, it emerged as a way of paying homage to the gods and spirits in religious ceremonies. The dance, which is highly stylised, is characterised by precise hand and foot movements and a high degree of facial expressiveness, all in harmony with the dynamics and rhythm of the music. There are several dances in the repertoire, some of which tell stories taken from Balinese myth and legend, while others are representations of elements of nature. Originally created as an entertainment for the nobility, the genre has transcended its initial function, and today is performed in dance schools and on stages all over the island, so much so that it has become a symbol of Balinese culture.

The gamelan is a traditional instrumental ensemble characterised by a combination of percussion instruments such as gongs, bells, xylophones and drums, together with string and wind instruments. It’s origins lie in the mythology of the region, which says that the gods would call out to each other through music. The tradition of the gamelan reaches beyond music. An ensemble belongs to the community from which it originates, so not only is it a pillar of social life, but also a living entity that is respected and venerated. The word ‘gamelan’ derives from the Javenese term ‘gamel’, which means ‘to strike’, in reference to the act of ‘striking’ the instruments. The relationship between the legong and the gamelan is a symbiotic one: the dance is nurtured by the music to tell an emotional and spiritual tale, while the music is brought to life by the visual performance of the dancer.

One of the interesting characteristics of the gamelan is that the instruments used and the material they are made from vary according to the context and geographical location, and this has resulted in a vast array of different sounds, although the common denominator is percussion with the frequent addition of flutes and bowed and plucked string instruments. Gamelan ensembles in Bali are divided into different types, each intended for a specific context. There are gamelans for religious ceremonies (gamelan gong kebyar), for theatrical performances (gamelan gambang), and for dance and music in general (gamelan jegog) (Neidich, 2013). The gamelan gong kebyar for example, is one of the best known and most widely used. It is characterised by vibrant rhythms and the intensity of sound created by the gongs and brass instruments, which together produce an energised and mystical mood.

Another of the distinctive features of gamelan is that although it’s an orchestra, it’s understood as a single instrument, to the extent that the tuning of each of its parts is carried out in relation to the rest. Furthermore, gamelan music is heterophonic, meaning that each instrument plays a different version of a melody, so that in many cases all that can be recognised is the overall effect.

In this concert, the resident group at the Music Museum, Gamelan Barasvara, will be joined by acclaimed Balinese dancers in a programme that explores the traditional and the contemporary legong, as well as the instrumental repertoire, in a show that includes two premières.

DISCUSSION:

As happens in each session in the #Trànsits cycle, prior to the performance there will be a discussion to introduce the audience to the key characteristics of gamelan, the relationship between dance, music and spirituality, and the uses and functions of some of the most representative forms of these styles of music and dance, both within and outside the original Indonesian context, as well as their meaning.

Free admission until capacity reached

• Date: Saturday, 5 April
• Venue: The Sala d’Interactius at the Barcelona Music Museum
• Time: 6 pm

Anak Agung Bagus Harjunanthara

Dancer, choreographer and teacher, Anak Agung Bagus Harjunanthara has a degree in the performing arts from the Denpasar Indonesian Arts Institute (ISI Denpasar). He has won several awards in traditional dance, and has represented Indonesia at international events. He currently runs the Arjuna Production Art Community in Bali.

Eka Santi Dewi

A dancer and teacher, Eka Santi Dewi trained in Bali and has taught hundreds of students over the course of her career. In 2003, she won the gold award at the prestigious Denpasar arts festival. Since 2011, she has lived in Antwerp, where she continues to promote Balinese dance in Europe.

Nyoman Hardiani Dewi

Originally from Bali, Nyoman Hardiani Dewi has lived in Barcelona for 12 years, and for the last two has been involved in Balinese gamelan, playing and dancing, as well as acting as a consultant on cultural issues related to the Gamelan Barasava group.

Kendra Stepputat, moderator

An ethnomusicologist specialising in Balinese performing arts, Kendra Stepputat lived and studied in Bali (Indonesia) for a time, learning to play the gamelan and to dance. At the moment she is conducting research in the field of choreomusicology, and is an associate professor and head of the Institute of Ethnomusicology at the Graz University of Music and Performing Arts (KUG).

EXHIBITION ‘Legong, Music and Dance of the Balinese Gamelan’:

Space is limited. Price: €10 with prior booking HERE.

• Date: Saturday, 5 April
• Venue: The Sala 2 Oriol Martorell at the Barcelona Music Museum
• Time: 8 pm

See you there!

Share! #Trànsits #museudelamúsica #OarBCN @museumusicabcn @bcn_interculturalitat

**** Author of the image: Xavier Erruz