Balinese Music

Tenzer, Michael ; Rio Helmi, Tom Ballinger. K. Prasetya, Eric Oey, Hans Hofer, Mike Hosken

ISBN 10: 9625931694 / ISBN 13: 9789625931692

Published by Periplus Eds. (HK) Ltd. ; Distributed by Charles E. Tuttle, Hong Kong, North Clarendon, VT, 1998, 1998

About this Item

143 pages : illustrations (some color), music ; 26 cm ISBN 9789625931692, 9625931694 OCLC 40291408 ; pictorial stiff paper wrappers ; Contents: An introduction to Balinese music -- A brief history of the music -- The construction and tuning of instruments -- Basic principles of gamelan music -- The music for the Baris dance -- Ensembles and repertoire -- Music in Balinese society -- Three generations of Balinese musicians -- Getting involved ; A tight interaction of melodic, rhythmic and textural components sustains the powerful orchestral gamelan music of Bali. The building blocks of the music share many traits with the larger social organization of Balinese villages, which provide a compelling setting for music that is an integral part of daily life. The primary function of music in Bali is to accompany ritual activity, but it is performed in many recreational contexts also. The instruments, most often made from bronze or bamboo, are organized into ensembles and tuned according to a set of flexibly interpreted standards. Villages may maintain one or several types of gamelan and use each for a ritually predetermined set of occasions. Music is composed, memorized, and rehearsed at the village meeting hall. When a gamelan accompanies dancers, as it often does, the close connections between movement and sound are brought to life through a complex system of interactive cues and responses. Performance standards are very high, and even with Bali's current and rapidly expanding connection to the rest of the world, gamelan music remains almost wholly unaffected by outside influences. The tradition is still learned and developed with vigor, and it has found an increasingly broad international audience. ; This book presents an introduction to more than a dozen different types of Balinese gamelan, each with its own established tradition, repertoire and social or religious context. The instruments and basic principles underlying the gamelan are introduced, thus providing listeners with the means to better appreciate the music. Scores of beautiful color photographs, a discography, and a brief guide to studying and hearing the music in Bali, will prove indispensible to visitors and gamelan afficionados around the world. ; FINE.

Seller Inventory # 010455

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Balinese Music
• Publisher: Periplus Eds. (HK) Ltd. ; Distributed by Charles E. Tuttle, Hong Kong, North Clarendon, VT, 1998
• Publication Date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9625931694
• ISBN 13: 9789625931692
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket
• Book Type: Book

About this title

Synopsis

Balinese Gamelan Music.

About the Author

Michael Tenzer teaches at the University of British Columbia and is a well-known composer of both Western and Balinese music.