Gong Lelambatan STSI (B.609)

Masterful performances by STSI throughout both sides of this great cassette. Their take on the venerable Tabuh Kutus Pelayon stands out; with classic telescoping lelambatan structure, evolving towards a gong-cycle sublime, and the interlocked gamelan super-focus required to articulate it all. The B side has some unusual choral accompaniment that hovers wonderfully amongst the shimmering metallic pulsations. Beautiful music.

Gong Lelambatan STSI (B.609)

Kreasi Baru Beleganjur, Kapal - Badung (B.833)

Hard hitting and bruising Beleganjur performance courtesy of Sekehe Gong Puspa Werdi. Heavy in form, but fluid and torrential in execution, these four intense pieces capture a propulsive energy, full of much fervor. Great stuff!

Kreasi Baru Beleganjur, Kapal - Badung (B.833)

Kreasi Genjek Stress 2 (B. 981)

Music for drinking, singing, and joyful abandon. Genjek is a fairly recent creation of the past few decades. Originating from the north/northeast of Bali, it's now become popular over much of the island. The name comes from the word 'gonjok' meaning 'joke'. Vital to any successful genjek session is tuak - a sweet & sour, milky wine beverage made from cocoanut palm flower. Potent and acidic, tuak is usually served from plastic jugs and consumed at room temperature (which, being the tropics, is not much colder than ones' own body temperature). Often there's some inadvertent dead ant garnish floating in the swill. Similar to drunkenness and punk rock, it's said that the more tuak consumed the better the genjek song. Listening to this tape and not intending any criticism, it does sound like the musician's are more pleasantly buzzed than wasted; it would be pretty tough to keep it together as well as they do if they were completely trashed! Besides, there's a lady singing and she wouldn't imbibe with the fellas.

Kreasi Genjek Stress 2 (B. 981) 

Pilihan Khusus: Tabuh Lelambatan Vol. 9 (B.962)

In Bali there's a ceremonial repertoire for gamelan called Lelambatan (literally: slow music), the primary purpose of which is for entertaining visiting deities at the temple. Intensifying with an uncanny grace, the super-refined complex structure of a lelambatan composition reveals itself in an almost organic way; articulating a sense of harmony between the human world and the greater celestial dimension. This exquisitely balanced sentiment also works to guide the mortal listener's mind towards the idea of a cosmos beyond while, simultaneously, defining their place relative to it. Yes, it's music for the Gods - but people get something too!

Pilihan Khusus: Tabuh Lelambatan Vol. 9 (B. 962)

Kidung Wargasari: Diiringi Gong Degdog, Kaliakah - Negara (B.453)

More interesting music from the Kaliakah village in West Bali, home of the previously posted Angklung Reong. This tape combines solo Kidung Wargasari vocal poetics with gamelan gong accompaniment - a very nice reverent vibe captured.

Kidung Wargasari: Diiringi Gong Degdog, Kaliakah - Negara (B.453)

Tabuh Lelambatan Klasik Gong Gede STSI Vol. 2 (B. 932)

Awesome followup volume to this mighty tape. Beatific, imposing gamelan compositions for exalted contemplation.

Tabuh Lelambatan Klasik Gong Gede STSI Vol. 2 (B. 932)

Kidung Wargasari, Karangasem (B. 934)

Austere recording of the Balinese romantic, quasi-historical kidung wargasari poem. Often heard at temple festivals reverberating from within the structure's inner sanctum, these sustained incantations are performed by groups (like on this tape) or, to different effect, solo. Gamelan accompaniment is sometimes a feature. I first heard this particular cassette when it was being blasted from an old loudspeaker for the benefit of the whole village - it sounded very cool echoing throughout hills. With a little work I tracked a copy down for myself, but have yet to crank it for the neighborhood. Nice cutout artwork on the cover.

Kidung Wargasari, Karangasem (B. 934)

Arja Muani Siti Markonah Vol. 1 "Sanggar Printing Mas", Denpasar (B.1058)

Raw live recording of the popular and operatic Balinese Arja dance drama. Similar to this topeng tape, in fidelity (or lack thereof), as well as having a captivating opening section.

Arja Muani Siti Markonah Vol. 1 "Sanggar Printing Mas", Denpasar (B.1058)

Angklung Reong (B 454)

More music from Western Bali - this time from the Kaliakah village, home of the harsh "Makepung" buffalo race. However they treat their livestock there, I won't hold it against the cool music on this tape - a meditative soundtrack for mortality and creation.

Angklung Reong (B 454)

Tabuh Lelambatan Klasik Gong Gede STSI Vol. 1 (B 931)

More gamelan gong gede, this time from STSI - Bali's premier college of the arts. Truly sublime compositions that unfold like stratified mandalas, and effect time for reverence of the deities sacred dimension. There's a second volume to this which is just as good - I'll post that later. 

Tabuh Lelambatan Klasik Gong Gede STSI Vol. (B 931)

Suling Pereret (B 886)

The pereret is a ancient kind of reedy trumpet/oboe instrument found on various islands in Indonesia. Apparently in the West Bali Jembrana district young single men will clime into trees at night and play enchanting serenades on their pererets to seduce maidens from the village for some amorous hookup. They probably wouldn't bother doing it if it didn't work! Here's a brief article in Indonesian that has more of an explanation. This tape captures an ensemble of pererets augmented with suling, a small gamelan, and some occasional singing. Even though they're from the West Bali Batuagung village, I don't know if there's much of a connection with the tree bound fellas described above and the music/musicians on this tape other than they come from the same region of the island. Regardless, the music is very cool and heavy - and, who knows, might very well cast a potent spell on some womenfolk. The pererets themselves saturate the sound in a wonderful way, creating blown out chords that rise from the driving percussion and gongs. Very nice!

(Suling Pereret (B 886).rar - 83MB)

Tabuh Bebarongan Sakral (BRD: 32)

Very nice album of instrumental Balinese gamelan accompaniment for the sacred Barong dance - one of Bali's most well known dances, famous for the "scene" where the witch Rangda puts a spell on the followers of the Barong, forcing them to stab themselves with their own krisses. It's all very dramatic. Also, here's a excellent and very detailed description of what it's like see to see one of the performances typically shown to tourists and big crowds.

Tabuh Bebarongan Sakral (BRD: 32)

Pelegongan Klasik (B 610)

This is a cool tape of Balinese gamelan pelegongan - a antiquated or klasik kind of pentatonic gamelan very closely related to the gamelan semar pegulingan and mostly associated with the ultra-refined classical legong keraton dance (hence it's name: pe-legong-an, meaning "accomplishment to the legong"). Pelegongan was the kind of gamelan that was holding sway over the island during colonial times up until the modern kebyar craze hit the scene and blew many minds. The gamelan that performs on this tape is from the government college of the arts, at the time of the recording called ASTI (Akademi Seni Tari Indonesia) but since changed in 1988 to STSI (Sekolah Tinggi Seni Indonesia). Nice hand drawn lettering on the cover of this tape, and cool Bali Record logo/sticker on the cassette itself.

Pelegongan Klasik (B 610)

Kreasi Beleganjur (B 720)

More baleganjur - though with the trendy alternate spelling. Same difference. All throughout this totally great tape Seka Gong Kalingga Jaya play from the heart, with the spoon-bending focus and indefatigable stamina required for the style. Additionally there are several pieces where Balinese Agama Hindu incantations are performed - I'm not sure what the proper name is to describe these - Kidung maybe? It's a profound and heavy sound that brings a quality of strong reverence to the music, and probably not heard much at all outside of the context of a Balinese religious ceremony.

Kreasi Beleganjur (B 720)