From the culturally rich island of Bali in Indonesia comes a tradition of beautifully intricate music and evocative dance that has been attracting international attention for over a century.
Gamelan Gita Asmara (translated as "Gamelan of the Song of Love") is a Vancouver-based ensemble of 25 musicians and five dancers that perform traditional and contemporary Balinese music on a spectacular and authentic gamelan made up of bronze gongs, metallophones and drums.
They will perform as part of the Caravan World Rhythms concert series on Sunday, May 2, at 2 p.m. at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons.
The program for the performance is engaging and diverse, ranging from traditional compositions and temple dances based on Hindu mythology to a new contemporary piece composed by musical director I Wayan Sudirana entitled Navadaza. This composition is inspired by the intricate rhythms in African music and the South Indian/tala (rhythmic) system, in combination with Balinese interlocking figurations, creating an entirely new flavour in this 21st century modern Balinese composition.
The program will also feature Panji Semirang, a seminal piece in the Balinese Gamelan repertoire that was composed and choreographed by I Wayan Lotring in 1943. It is based on the Malat cycle, a series of 14th century kidung poems and tells the story of a Javanese princess who disguises herself as a man while seeking her long-lost lover.
The combined effect of the music, dance, instruments and costumes is dazzling, making this concert appealing to people of all ages and a great event for families.
Tickets are $18 in advance or $20 at the door. There is a $5 discount for students, and children under 12 are free. Tickets are available on-line at www.caravanbc.com or in person at Gaia's Fair Trade, MELOmania and WindSong Gallery.
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