Which types of Balinese gamelan are rarely seen or heard?
Part IV
The list of rarely seen or heard gamelan in Bali is long and
covers many ensembles of all different sizes.
Bali is home to the world’s biggest gamelan, termed
appropriately ‘gong ageng’ or colloquially known
as ‘gong gede’. It is made up of purely large
percussive instruments such as gongs, drums, metallaphones
and pot gongs, requiring at least forty-eight musicians. Second
in size only to the western classical groups, gong gede produces
a formidably grandiose sound. A handful of gong gede groups
play in villages around Bangli for temple ceremonies, and
one of the oldest and most sacred ensembles, allegedly dating
to the 15th century, can be heard every full moon at Pura
Ulun Danau Batur in Kintamani.
Genggong is an ensemble of Jew’s harps which are played
in interlocking pairs to mimic the comical croaks of rice
field frogs. Augmented with flutes, time keepers, a horizontal
gong and a drum, the orchestra provides the accompaniment
to the Frog Dance (Tari Kodok). Genggong is indigenous to
only a few villages and you can catch tourist performances
in Batuan, Gianyar.
The onomatopoeic ‘tetekan’ is a type of gamelan
found exclusively in Kerambitan, Tabanan. The resourceful
Balinese have made use of dozens of cow bells which are strung
around the musicians’ necks and hit with sticks in powerful
interlocking patterns. Performances of tetekan include a dance
drama and are held regularly for tourists at Puri Kerambitan.
Tetekan is also regularly featured at the annual Bali Arts
Festival, particularly at the opening ceremony.
My brief explanations of rarely seen or heard gamelan orchestras
really only scratches the surface of a wonderfully unique
Balinese sound-scape. Considering the size of the island and
its small population, over only a space of a thousand years,
talented Balinese musicians have created an incredible array
of fascinating types of musical instruments, melodies and
rhythmic patterns which for the most part survive to this
day. What may surprise you is that hardly any of it is written
down - more on that in the next edition of Kulture Kid.
Copyright@ Kulture Kid 2006
You can read all past articles of Kulture Kid at www.BaliAdvertiser.biz
