Recorded in Pura Tanah Lot, in September 2021, with the special feeling that this Temple is located next to the Sea in Tabanan region, which made this performance beautifully connected with the nature :).
This music served as an accompaniment for the Odalan (Birthday) ceremony of the place. It was one of the first performances where the Gamelan Selonding Ensemble sounded in a Western region of the Island, as it still remains mostly popular on the East Side, where it was developed.
Gamelan Selonding is a Traditional Balinese musical ensemble that is older than other types that are now popular in the island. It dates back to the 900s, and belongs to the Golongan Tua classification of ensembles, along with Gambang, Gender Wayang, and Angklung.
It is a sacred Gamelan, often used to complete religious ceremonies in Bali. The distribution of Selonding Gamelan in Karangasem Regency can be found in several old villages. In the context of the traditional religion, Selonding Gamelan is used to accompany large ceremonial processions such as cremation, wedding, or birthday temple ceremonies.
Until between 20-40 years ago, selonding instruments and their attendant repertoire existed exclusively in Bali Aga (pre-majapahit indigenous Balinese) villages in Karangasem, Bali's easternmost regency.
Some examples of Aga villages with selonding traditions include: Tenganan Pagringsingan, Bungaya, Selat, Bugbug, Bebandem and Asak.
credits
released April 19, 2023
This is a documentary process of recording Balinese Traditional Gamelan music, started in the year 2020.
Traditions have changed over time, but ancient musical compositions are adapted to nowadays life.
Agustín Oscar Rissotti, an Argentinian student of the University ISI Denpasar (Bali), developed an idea to join as many rehearsals, ensembles and religious ceremonies as possible with small microphones and recording equipment, to document the authentique "Bali Gamelan Sound".
In Bali, live performances are meant to be performed for the Gods. There is no egoistic purpose in this performances, but to admire the beauty of this world through the eyes of Hindu Balinese religion.
As for his ears, this is "The authentique Bali Sound", full of conversations around, people passing by, laughs, music of different performances played together (as it is meant to be in several Balinese Hindu ceremonies where -more than 1- ensembles are playing music very close to each other -at the same time-, background noises, sounds of coffee cups and arak shoots, breath of cigarettes, animals hollowing around, hundreds of motorbikes passing by, and even mother nature earthquakes.
With all my respect, this is the vision of a South Latin American guy who ended up studying Balinese Culture and living in the Island during the pandemic.
I hope this can translate you to the world I am living in.
Thankyou, I hope you will enjoy this music.
Astungkara, Matur suksema.
A very special thanks to Krisna, for inviting me to this celebration.
All the economic contributions made to this project will be spent in developing the Balinese Culture and Artists.
supported by 13 fans who also own “Selonding, Vol. IV”
I have loved the dixie Humming birds since the 1960s, but have never heard their early work--amazing. Listening to all this wonderous harmony and spirit comes close to restoring my lost faith in Christianity. ronspin