Urban Vancouver

KEBYAR! The Music and Dance of Bali

By Kara Gibbs on April 2, 2008 - 8:15pm

KEBYAR! The Music and Dance of Bali

Saturday, May 3rd, 2008 at 8:00pm and
Sunday, May 4th, 2008 at 2:00pm
Scotiabank Dance Centre
(677 Davie Street, Vancouver)

From the culturally rich island of Bali in Indonesia, comes a tradition of beautifully intricate music and evocative dance that has been attracting international attention for over a century. Gamelan Gita Asmara (translated as “Gamelan of the Song of Love”) is a Vancouver-based ensemble of 27 musicians and 4 dancers dedicated to performing the music and dance of Bali.

The group was founded by ethnomusicologist and composer Michael Tenzer, and is host to guest Balinese artists I Wayan Sudirana (composer and musical director) and Ni Putu Widiantini (dance director). The ensemble performs on a spectacular and authentic gamelan made up of bronze gongs, metallophones, cymbals, drums, and bamboo flutes. Based at the University of British Columbia, Gamelan Gita Asmara prepares the extremely complex interlocking patterns of this music in the traditional Balinese manner of memorization and intensive (5 hours weekly) rehearsal.

Kebyar! will feature a mixture of traditional and contemporary Balinese repertoire–from the strict and hypnotic passages of the elegant instrumental work Jagul to the vigorous and unpredictable warrior dance Baris. Distinguished dance director Putu Widiantini will present the fiery virtuoso dance Kebyar Gandrung, and dancers Azalia Musa and Tomoko Tahara will be featured in Legong Keraton Lasem (Divine Dance of the Nymphs) one of the most well-loved of all Balinese dances.

South Indian rhythms and modern European musical ideas both play major roles in Banyuari, composed by director Michael Tenzer. Originally written for the American gamelan group Sekar Jaya for their tour of Bali in 1992, this work introduces many foreign musical techniques and ideas. The concert will also feature the ensemble’s signature theme, Gita Asmara, written by musical director I Wayan Sudirana. “Full of clashing sonorities and complex tempos, and particularly inventive in its use of the strident-sounding reongs, or kettle gongs, Gita Asmara is exactly as Sudirana describes it: a truly rockin' piece of 21st-century music”–Alex Varty, Georgia Straight.

This dazzling event is appropriate for all ages¬–families are welcome and kids under the age of 12 are admitted free of charge. After the 2:00pm matinee performance on Sunday, May 4th, the ensemble will host an informal “instrument petting zoo” in which curious adults and children accompanied by parents will be able to get some hands-on experience with authentic Balinese instruments!

KEBYAR!
THE MUSIC AND DANCE OF BALI
Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 8:00pm & Sunday, May 4, 2008 at 2:00pm
Scotiabank Dance Centre (677 Davie Street, Vancouver)
$20/$15 students and seniors, kids under 12 free. Tickets available at the door.
More information: www.gitaasmara.ca