Discover the gamelan gong kebyar, an orchestra that accompanies religious events in Bali (#Trànsits)
“Trànsits: músiques de l'esperit” [Transitions: Music of the Spirit], is a series of activities organised by the Museu de la Música de Barcelona and the Religious Affairs Office (OAR) as part of the “Power or revolt” season at L'Auditori It shines a spotlight on the close ties between music and the spiritual practices of various communities in Barcelona. The series continues on 3 February with «Kebyar: gamelan music of Bali», an activity that consists of a concert and a prior talk.
KEBYAR. GAMELAN MUSIC OF BALI
This, the fourth session in the second edition of the series «Trànsits: músiques de l’esperit», Transitions: Music of the Spirit] entitled «Kebyar: gamelan music of Bali», will be taking place on 3 February in Sala Alicia de Larrocha at L’Auditori.
The gamelan is a type of traditional orchestra from the islands of Java and Bali. The practice has its origins in the region’s mythology, according to which the gods would summon each other through music. 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.
The gamelan sets are generally used to accompany religious or social events, theatre performances or choreographies.
However, the tradition of the gamelan goes beyond its musical nature. The sets belong to the community from which they originate, so not only is it one of the pillars around which the social life is structured, but also a living entity that is respected and venerated. Another of the characteristics of the gamelan is that while it is an orchestra, it is understood as a single instrument, to the point that the tuning of each instrument is carried out in relation to all the others. Furthermore, the music of the gamelan is heterophonic and therefore, each individual instrument plays a different version of a melody to the extent that, in many cases, only the result of the set as a whole is recognisable.
Of all the existing variants, the most widely used gamelan set in Bali is the gamelan gong kebyar, characterised by the use of bronze instruments and abrupt contrasts in tempo and texture. It is from here that it gets the name «kebyar», which means “to flare up or burst open”. The Museu de la Música has a set with these characteristics, which has led to the appearance of the only two established groups of this practice in Spain: the Gamelan Penempaan Guntur and the Gamelan Barasvara. The second of these groups, which has permanent residency at the Museu de la Música, will be performing a selection of different keybar pieces, accompanied by musician Krishna Sutedja.
The show for this new session in the Trànsits series will feature five keybar-style pieces, both instrumental and accompanied by dance. Beforehand, there will be a conversation featuring Krishna Sutedja and Lluís Solsona, musical director of the Gamelan Barasvara group. The discussion, which will be moderated by Horacio Curti, ethnomusicologist, lecturer at the ESMUC and coordinator of the music of Asia programme, will address issues such as the historical importance of the musical tradition of the gamelan in Balinese society, the role played by this instrument in individual and collective articulation and the arrival and establishment of this practice in Barcelona beyond the Indonesian diaspora.
CONVERSATION with Krishna Sutedja and Lluís Solsona.
Limited places. Free admission with prior booking HERE.
- Date: Saturday 3 February
- Venue: Sala Alicia de Larrocha at L’Auditori
- Time: 6.30 pm
CONCERT featuring the Gamelan Barasvara group with guest artist Krishna Sutedja.
Limited places. Price: €10 Prior booking HERE.
- Date: Saturday 3 February
- Venue: Sala Alicia de Larrocha at L’Auditori
- Time: 8.00 pm