Tag Archive: gamelan

Jul
22

A Balinese Royal Cremation Ceremony

Kiki was adamant. ”There is a Royal Cremation tomorrow,” she told us, “You must go!” Our villa manager, Kiki had made it her mission to ensure we were getting the breadth of Bali’s local experiences. And while I’m not one for taking photos at funerals (err, or weddings, for that matter), Kiki was right. Mengwi’ Queen Ida …

Continue reading »

Jul
12

Getting Giddy with the Gamelan in Ubud

As a musician, the gamelan and its music has always intrigued me. This Indonesian ensemble of metallophones, xylophones, gongs and various other instruments is wonderful to listen to, but I have little idea of how the hell they make that enchanting noise. Is there a score they’re all following? Are there different instruments and different …

Continue reading »