Bali's Amazing, Interlocking Gamelan Music - feat. Nata Swara & KOBRA

Summary

This video explores the dynamic and intricate world of Gong Kebyar, a genre of Balinese Gamelan music that emerged in the 1910s. Focusing on the gangsa, a keyed metallophone, the video delves into its role within the orchestra, explaining techniques like kotekan (interlocking patterns) and gongan (gong cycles). The script breaks down two main kotekan types, Nyog Cag and Ubit-Ubitan, demonstrating their complex rhythmic structures. The video also highlights the importance of precision in performance, with multiple gangsa players synchronized to create a shimmering effect. Footage from two Balinese groups showcases this remarkable tradition in action.

Takeaways

• 😀 Gong Kebyar is a dynamic and explosive style of Balinese gamelan music, characterized by fast interlocking patterns and sudden changes in tempo and texture.
• 🎹 The gangsa, a keyed metallophone instrument made of bronze, plays a central role in the Gong Kebyar ensemble, producing sharp, immediate tones with long decay.
• 👋 The muting hand on the gangsa cuts off the notes after the hammer strike, allowing for legato lines and the creation of interlocking kotekan patterns.
• 🔄 Kotekan refers to interlocking patterns of two parts: polos (downbeat) and sangsih (upbeat), essential to the complex melodies of Gong Kebyar.
• 🎶 Nyog Cag is a simple kotekan pattern where polos plays on the downbeats and sangsih fills in on the upbeats, creating a seamless rhythmic flow.
• 🔁 Ubit-Ubitan is a more complex kotekan pattern involving overlapping notes between polos and sangsih, creating an offset rhythm.
• 🎧 The gongan, or gong cycle, is a fundamental structure in Balinese gamelan, featuring a series of gongs that mark the pulse of the music in contrasting speeds.
• 🔊 In the Gong Kebyar style, the gangsa plays at faster tempos, while the gongan, using gongs like the kempli and klentong, plays at slower tempos, creating a tension between the two.
• 🎵 A typical Gong Kebyar ensemble includes 8 gangsa players, with 4 on the gangsa pemade (lower octave) and 4 on the gangsa kantil (higher octave).
• 🎶 The tuning differences between players, such as pengumbang and pengisep, create a shimmering 'ombak' effect, enhancing the ensemble's sound texture.
• 🎥 The video features performances from two Balinese gamelan groups, Nata Swara and Rare Angon, showcasing the precision and skill required to perform Gong Kebyar music.

Q & A

What is the meaning of the term 'kebyar' in Balinese music?

The term 'kebyar' refers to a dynamic and explosive style of Balinese music, characterized by fast, interlocking passages, sudden changes in speed, and shifting orchestral textures.

How did colonial rule impact Balinese music instruments?

Under Dutch colonial rule, heirloom instruments in Bali lost their traditional ceremonial purpose. Many were repurposed or dismantled and forged into new Gong Kebyar sets.

What is the gangsa in a Gong Kebyar orchestra?

The gangsa is a keyed metallophone, similar to a vibraphone, and is the most prominent instrument in a Gong Kebyar orchestra. It consists of bronze keys suspended over bamboo resonating tubes.

What role does the 'panggul' play in playing the gangsa?

The panggul, or hammer, is used to strike the gangsa keys, producing a sharp, instantaneous attack. The note rings with a long decay before being muted by the performer’s hand.

What is the significance of 'kotekan' in Balinese gamelan?

Kotekan refers to interlocking musical patterns in Balinese gamelan, typically played by two musicians, creating complex melodies that would be impossible for one person to perform alone.

What are the two parts that make up a kotekan pattern?

A kotekan pattern is made up of two parts: 'polos', which plays on the downbeats, and 'sangsih', which plays on the upbeats.

What is the difference between Nyog Cag and Ubit-Ubitan kotekan patterns?

Nyog Cag is a simpler kotekan pattern where polos plays on downbeats and sangsih on upbeats. Ubit-Ubitan, however, involves a more complex structure, with one note followed by two pairs, leading to overlapping parts between polos and sangsih.

How does the concept of 'gongan' influence Balinese gamelan music?

'Gongan' refers to gong cycles, which are a fundamental part of Balinese gamelan. They are marked by a sequence of gong hits that structure the rhythm and pace of the music, often slowing down or speeding up in response to the main melody.

What is the role of the small muted gong in a gongan cycle?

The small muted gong, called 'Kempli' (incorrectly referred to as Kempli in the script), marks the pulse of the gongan cycle, helping to keep time while other instruments play more intricate rhythms.

What does the term 'ombak' describe in the context of Gong Kebyar?

'Ombak' refers to the shimmering effect produced by the slight tuning differences between two groups of gangsa players, creating a chorus-like sound that enhances the overall texture of the music.