Members of Gamelan Galak Tika deliver one of the most unique performances to date at WGBH’s Fraser Performance Studio. The Cambridge-based gamelan, founded and directed by Evan Ziporyn, is approximately 30 members strong, drawing its membership from MIT students, staff, and the community.
What is a Gamelan? The word means "to hammer;" the term refers generally to the large percussion orchestras of Java and Bali. The primary instruments are gongs, metallophones and hand drums, with cymbals, vocals, bamboo flutes, and spiked fiddles used as well. Gamelan is the wellspring of all music in Bali, both sacred and secular. The Balinese people are ardent practitioners of a unique form of Hinduism, and gamelan is necessary for all ritual events, as well as to mark any large social occasion. There are dozens of different types of gamelans in Bali, ranging from large metal orchestras to bamboo ensembles, vocal groups, and groups dedicated to the imitation of frog sounds. All the music is marked by the use of one of two non-tempered pentatonic scales - pelog or slendro - and by rhythmically precise interlocking parts known as kotekan.
This performance was recorded on May 10, 2019.
Set list:
Traditional - Merak Ngelo
Traditional - Rebong
Video credits:
Jess Barnthouse – Camera
Stacy Buchanan – Producer
Mike Kligerman – Camera
Brian McCreath – Host
Antonio Oliart – Audio Recording
Phil Reilly – Lighting
Greg Shea – Director/Camera/Editor
Audrey Wang – Camera
Joel Watts – Audio Recording & Mix
Nolan Yee – Camera
