The Best Sound of Bali (Part 2) CD

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Track 1: Gita Kusuma Tabuh Kreasi Baru Gong Kebyar (9:20)

Gamelan Gong Kebyar is the most popular ensemble in Bali. This Gamelan is played in temple ceremonies and other ceremonial occasions. The Gita Kusuma Gong Kebyar is characterized by discontinuities in tempo, dynamic, metric period, and orchestration. Melodic and rhythmic pattern, often comprising complimentary interlocking parts, are developed to a remarkable degree of intricacy.

Track 2: Sekar Sungsang Gender Wayang (6:02)

The quartet Gamelan ‘Gender Wayang’ are four metallophones, consist of a pair ten-key Slendro-tuned in a medium register an another pair is tuned higher. The musician used two mallets in his left and right hand to play independent parts. Gender Wayang is usually played to accompany Wayang Kulit performances. It is also performed in tooth-filing procession and cremation ceremonies.

Track 3: Sekar Jepun Gamelan Rindik (8:02)

Gamelan Rindik is also known as Gamelan Joged Bumbung. Rindik is an instrument made of tubes of bamboo which were cut off at the tip to make beautiful sound. Rindik Joged is tuned to a Slendro scale and played with two rubber-tipped mallets. It is usually performed in a Joged (social dance) performance and freely played in a wedding party as well.

Track 4: Jiwa Merta Balaganjur (18:53)

Gamelan Balaganjur is a processional ensemble consisting of a variety of hand-held Gongs, small tuned Kettle Gong, eight pairs of Crash Cymbals (Ceng Ceng Kopyak), and two large drums (Kendhang Lanang and Wadon) played by twenty five musicians. Balaganjur music takes root from a standard formal structure, or Tabuh, known as Gilak. Gilak is an eight-beat Gong cycle that normally repeats continuously throughout an entire Balaganjur performance. Jiwa Merta or the soul of prosperity is a new creation composed for a Balaganjur competition.

Track 5: Katak Ngongkek Genggong (5:37)

Gamelan Genggong is one of the traditional Balinese music based on an instrument called Genggong, also known as Jaw Harp. Gamelan Genggong consists of many different kinds of percussion instruments such as Kendhang (drum) as a leading tempo, Tawa-Tawa (Boss Gong) as a time beater, Klenang (Kettle Gong) as the alternate time beater, Rincik (a set of small Cymbals), Guntang (Slating Bamboo instrument) as punctuation instrument and Gong Pulu (a pair of bars with box resonators). The song Katak Ngongkek is an instrumental peace which describes a group of frog making sounds at the nightfall.

Track 6: Baris (Warrior’s Dance) Legong (9:40)

Gamelan Gong Kebyar is the most famous Gamelan in Bali nowadays. It is played in temple festivals and for other ceremonial processions. Since the debut of the Kebyar master, I Mario, a lot of new compositions are created. This Baris Dance is a solo warrior dance describing the braveness and charisma of a Balinese soldier.

Track 7: Ogoh-Ogoh Balinese Popular Song (5:04)

Some young Balinese musicians form local bands that played pop music genre without losing local Balinese identity. There are some groups try to create a truly indigenous Balinese pop songs based on a combination of traditional and popular music. Among the local pop music in Bali, the song called Ogoh-Ogoh is a song depicting the image of giant statues during the procession of Nyepi (secluded day or Balinese New Year).

Track 8: Peguneman Gamelan Jegog (8:13)

Comes from the western part of Bali, Jembrana, Gamelan Jegog is an interesting Gamelan made of bamboo. This ensemble made from larger and richer sonorous bamboo, combined with big drum taken from Gong Kebyar. It is primarily played for Makepung festival (bull race festival). During the festival, competition among Gamelan groups is held to demonstrate their skill and stamina. The winner is the group that survives to play the longest of period. The song Peguneman is a typical opening song to introduce the scale at the beginning of the performance.