Hypnotized by that golden pulse

The
Eastman Gamelan is exactly the kind of endeavor that Rochester should be
crowing about. It’s an example of true multiculturalism: people from a wide
variety of ethnic backgrounds coming together to enjoy the beauty of a
little-known culture. It’s cooperative, not about competition or big egos.
Though the Eastman Gamelan is affiliated with an academic institution, it has
no ivory-tower stuffiness. It draws participants from age 8 to 65. And it
produces some of the most delightful music you’ll ever hear.

            Hidden deep in the bowels of the
Eastman Theater is the gamelan room. Approaching it through the labyrinth of
little-used chambers and hallways, I heard the strange incessant metallic pulse
of rehearsal. And finding the gamelan room, I was reminded of an overheated
section of Santa’s workshop. Almost everybody had a hammer. And almost
everybody was hunched over, banging away to add their part to the harmonious
din.

            A gamelan is an Indonesian
metallophone orchestra. A few dozen players sit or squat before small banks of
instruments that look like elegantly simple xylophones. Generally, all the
musicians are playing at once. The overall effect of the group in full swing
can be both charming and rather overwhelming. The various metallophones are
slightly detuned to produce the distinctive throbbing, shimmering sound. And
combined with the intricate interlocking patterns, it produces an almost
hypnotic effect. Individual players have only a few pitches at their command.
The entire ensemble is tuned to a mode similar to the standard western
pentatonic scale (all black keys on the piano). It’s a great example of
simplicity and virtuosity brought together.

            Gamelan Lila Muni (“orchestra
of heavenly sound”) should serve as a parade example of academic and
community cooperation. Many members of the group are musicians outside the
Eastman sphere of influence. Some are artists. And a surprising number of
scientists also play with the group. This may have something to do with the
mathematical intricacies of gamelan music. There is no room for improvisation.
Still, this is definitely not a cold and sterile tradition.

            Director Clay Greenberg compares the
two main streams of gamelan music this way. “The Balinese form is more
lively, kinetic, energized” than that from Java. The ensembles he directs
here in Rochester are of the Balinese variety. Greenberg is a conducting
student at the Eastman and hopes some day to open a world music school in some
major city. For the time being, he spends much of his creative energy bringing
the richness of Balinese musical culture to Rochester.

            On Monday, April 21, concertgoers
will get a chance to hear what that means. All three gamelan groups affiliated
with the Eastman School of Music will perform in a free concert. The
performance will also showcase guest Indonesian dancer Ni Luh Kadek Kusuma Dewi
and visiting associate Professor of Gamelan I Nyoman Suadin. There will
probably be no better chance to immerse yourself in the full spectrum of
gamelan music than this concert. Four dances will be included, featuring two
Balinese dancers and students who’ve studied with them here.

            Also on the bill: the Eastman Youth
Gamelan, which includes a good number of homeschoolers, as well as some kids
from the Eastman Pathways Program. Imagine if all over Rochester, kids were
trekking out on weeknights to bang gongs with other kids. Imagine the highways
full of gamelan moms rather than soccer moms. Imagine kids fascinated with
shimmering, pulsing wild Asian sounds and not the brainless hump and thump of
most pop.

            All right, it’s a bit much to ask.
But I’m convinced that many children would be fascinated to see and hear the
upcoming concert. To make the event even more accessible, Greenberg always
programs a demonstration song. “We take the song apart piece by piece so
that the audience can hear the individual instruments.”

            Exotic but not bizarre. Heavily
rhythmic and intricately nuanced. Full of spectacle and soul. Rich in tradition
and friendly to new listeners. This is exactly the kind of concert that
deserves a packed house.

Gamelan Lila
Muni,
Monday, April 21, 8 p.m., Kilbourn Hall, 274-1052. Free.

This article appears in Apr 16-22, 2003.