Indonesian gamelan showcased during symphony's world music concert
Posted by Jayme Blaschke
Office of Media Relations
April 11, 2018
SAN MARCOS – The Texas State University Symphony Orchestra will partner with Texas State Balinese Gamelan ensemble, Gamelan Lipi Awan (Gamelan Rising Star!) to perform "Bersama (Coming Together)" during a world music concert 7:30 p.m. April 24.
The event will be held in Evans Auditorium and is open to the public. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for children, seniors and military personnel, and $5 for Texas State students. Tickets can be purchased at www.txstatepresents.com. Seating will be on a reserved basis.
The original piece is composed by Gordon Jones, senior lecturer in the School of Music. The 18-minute piece, "Bersama," will feature the addition of dance-drama, an element integral to Balinese culture. The choreography is by Surapsari, who lived in Ubud, Bali, for more than 15 years and studied Balinese temple dance with internationally-recognized artists such as I Made Jimat, Ni Wayan Sekariani and I Dewa Nyoman Irawan.
The composition explores the relationships between traditional Balinese Gamelan Gong Kebyar timbre, techniques and musical devices, and the potential of "marrying" this world of sound to that of a Western orchestra. Bersama means "coming together" in the Indonesian language. The juxtaposition of gamelan and orchestra creates contrast and harmony; the manifestation of a basic tenet of Balinese philosophy, rwa bhineda, the dynamic balance between two opposite forces (East and West).
Gamelan is the music of Indonesia, which centers on a specially constructed and elaborate set of gong and metal-keyed percussion instruments. These instruments are tuned to an entirely different scale unfamiliar to Western ears. Texas State’s gamelan was handmade in Bali and received in 2012.
About Texas State University
Founded in 1899, Texas State University is among the largest universities in Texas with an enrollment of 38,694 students on campuses in San Marcos and Round Rock. Texas State’s 184,000-plus alumni are a powerful force in serving the economic workforce needs of Texas and throughout the world. Designated an Emerging Research University by the State of Texas, Texas State is classified under “Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity,” the second-highest designation for research institutions under the Carnegie classification system.