Democracy and Equality in Balinese Gamelan Part I

Posted on April 24, 2019 by MekarBhuana

Bali still has a very traditional society and the late Made Wijaya went so far as to say a ‘mediaeval’one, albeit existing and functioning in the modern world. Continue reading →

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What is the difference between a lesson and a workshop at Mekar Bhuana Centre?

Posted on March 4, 2019 by MekarBhuana

One of the most common questions we get from potential students who contact Mekar Bhuana is what the difference is between a lesson and a workshop. So I’m going to explain this in my blog. Continue reading →

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Is listening part of Balinese culture?

Posted on February 22, 2019 by MekarBhuana

Go to a meeting or take a Balinese to a music concert and you’ll quickly learn that Balinese prefer talking to listening. Continue reading →

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Gongs in Bali Part IV – What is Special about a Gong to Balinese?

Posted on January 18, 2019 by MekarBhuana

If a gamelan orchestra has a hanging gong in it (not all do), it is almost always the most important instrument. It is considered the heart of the ensemble, therefore is also the instrument that can never been left out when an ensemble is reduced in size for some reason. Continue reading →

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Gongs in Bali Part III – what is characteristic about Balinese gongs?

Posted on January 18, 2019 by MekarBhuana

The two common types of materials for gong making are bronze and iron, with the former being more prestigious and therefore a lot more expensive. Continue reading →

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Gongs in Bali Part II – How many different types of gongs are there in Bali?

Posted on January 18, 2019 by MekarBhuana

A gong is actually not just a round metal object that hangs in a frame and makes a sound when you hit it. There are in fact different categories of gongs in Bali which can be made of bronze, iron or bamboo. Continue reading →

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Gongs in Bali

Posted on January 18, 2019 by MekarBhuana

To the Balinese, a gong is something that is often revered: for its sound, its prestige, its mysticism. To the lay person, we think of a gong as a hanging instrument that makes a sort of booming sound, but it is much more than that. Continue reading →

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How do Balinese know which gamelan orchestra to use for which ceremony?

Posted on January 12, 2018 by MekarBhuana

A couple of treatises called Aji Gurnita and Pra Kempa which date to the 1800s detail a number of the main types of ceremonial gamelan orchestras, explaining their instrumentation and their function. Continue reading →

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At what Age do Children in Bali start learning Gamelan? Part II

Posted on January 2, 2018 by MekarBhuana

As I stated in my last article, many kids in Bali these days learn traditional music simply because their parents want them to. Continue reading →

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At what age do children in Bali start learning gamelan?

Posted on December 13, 2017 by MekarBhuana

Outside of Bali, a child who starts playing music at a kindergarten age is often considered naturally gifted, sometimes labeled a genius, a prodigy or similar. In Bali, however, this is not always so; and in fact it’s expected that children play music (and dance) from a very young age, basically as soon as they can walk. Why is this? Continue reading →

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