What are your cultural learning goals for this semester?
My cultural learning goal for this semester is to learn about Gamelan. Gamelan is an Indonesian music ensemble of Java and Bali in Indonesia. Gamelan is frequently played on formal occasions like rituals and ceremonies. For most, it is a unique expression of Indonesian culture. Typically, dancers accompany the musicians. I would like to focus on the Gamelan in Bali. In Bali, almost all religious rituals incorporate gamelan performance. Certain pieces are believed to have magical powers, which can be used to ward off evil spirits. In this way, focusing on gamelan in Bali can shed light on the Balinese people's propensity for superstition and rituals.
What's more, in Bali, all Gamelan instruments are kept together in one space -- meaning, no one has full ownership over them. People believe that the instruments belong to the local community. This fact illustrates the communal nature of the Balinese culture.
There are a few resources I can use to explore this topic. First, a professor in the music department is a master gamelan who frequently travels to Indonesia to play and study the music and culture. His extensive training in Bali means that he can be an important resource. Second, the music library has a copy of Gamelan Gong Keybar: The Art of the Twentieth-Century Balinese Music by Michael Tenzer. This resource will offer a rich cultural analysis of gamelan in Bali.
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