On this day, we worked on two new pieces centered on reyong and trompong, suspended kettle-gong instruments with a very different timbre and technique from the gangsas we’ve mainly been playing. The trompong is a more melodic instrument, whereas reyong playing features intricate interlocking parts (called “kilitan”) and is more rhythmic. The second piece we worked on is a “marching” or walking piece. Dewa explained that musicians will each carry an instrument and play their parts as (for example) a procession carries cremation ashes from the village to the sea. (from the future: we saw Cudamani players doing this when we went to the funeral procession on Jan 17.)
Afterwards, several of us visited the Agung Rai Museum of Art. The museum grounds (also a resort) were open, quiet, lush and beautiful; and there were artists-in-residence painting there. The collection had a wide variety of paintings by Balinese artists or featuring Balinese subjects, from more classical to more modern styles. I especially appreciated the featured exhibition of work by artist I Made Djirna.
In the evening, some of us went to watch young musicians at Cudamani rehearsing for their upcoming exams at ISI Denpasar. I only stayed to watch one piece, but it was quite awesome. It was such a tempestuous and angular piece, so furious in parts and then abruptly graceful, then groovy, then furious again; and the musicians were making sounds and using techniques I (in my very shallow experience with Gamelan) had never heard before. I found it very inspiring.
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