Baris melampahan

Background information

This piece comes from Indonesia (Bali) which is a culturally rich and diverse place
This is a baris which is an ancient ritual dance usually performed by young men demonstrating their military skills
Ceremonial occasion- with costume and sometimes weapons
This piece is usually 12 minutes long
In the modern gong kebyar style:
Aggressive style
Vivid contrasts
Sudden outbursts

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Kendhang- role of the master drummer playing 2 headed drums. Sets the tempo and cues features such as repeats
Drums and cymbals- adds contrasts especially to loud sections e.g. lanang, wadon and ceng-ceng
Balunga- one octave metallophones e.g. celung and jegogan and suling (bamboo flute) which plays the main theme
Panususan- larger 2 octave metallophones e.g. ugal which decorate and embellish the main theme
Gongs- the gong strokes mark the different sections in the music e.g. kempur and kemong

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Gamelan is an ensemble made up of percussive instruments e.g. gongs and metallophones
Made, kept and tuned together as a unique set
Each gamelan is tuned differently and the pitches don't relate to western notation
Metallophones are tuned slighty differently in pairs
Creates beating effect- ombak (where the same note is played). This gives the music a shimmering quality
5 pentatonic notes of the 7 note pelog scale is used

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Heterophonic texture- where different variations of the same melody is played
Different versions of the balungan melody is played
Core melody- balungan (basis of the music)
Gong strokes mark the end of the main sections
The music is organised into 4 beat groups (a bit like bars) each called a ketang

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Intro- free time from the kendhang
Ux2- balungan: core melody
Angsel section/loud section- drums, cymbals and panususan instruments are added
Page 527- variations in dynamics
Shorter sections- kendhang accents offering contrasts by featuring mainly drums and simple versions of the balungan melody
Instruments come together at the end of each section on note 6 and the variety of dynamics at letter H

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