Selection from group improvisation on May 24, 2014

Selection from Intersection of Trash

Sinom is the name of the traditional, bass melody. The detail was composed and taught by I Made Terip of Munduk, Buleleng, Bali. The semar pegulingan is based in Gobleg, Bali.

2011-12-26-SinomLadrang2

Classical dance piece performed by Sanggar Seni Tripitaka (Tripittaka). I Made Terip - suling. I Putu Putrawan - kendang wadon.

2011-12-28 LegongKeraton incomplete

Another astonishing work by the Sanggar Tripittaka: a seamless mix of kecak and traditional Buleleng genjek. I'd forgotten to turn on my recorder, and let it go because kecak is so common in modern Bali, but was floored by the genjek. That's what the selection begins with -- check it out.

Kecak genjek a cappella gamelan

Gender Wayang Terip Arina2

The whole track is over 13 mins long, available for educational or personal use with a donation to the artists.

This recording was made in "the field" at a wedding reception in neighboring village Kayu Putih. The opening solo is played by my teacher I Made Terip on terompong, a part that at once underscores the pokok "trunk" melody and freely ornaments it. The instrument looks like a reyong in that it's a long row of round tuned gongs struck with sticks wrapped tightly with string.

Hearing the terompong put a maniacal grin on my face. I was still foggy with sleep that morning but wrote, "if this is the ecstasy of life, it is an ecstatic jaunt in the clouds."

Lelonggoran selection

These suspension bamboo-keyed instruments are one of my teacher's specialties. The two lowest register instruments heard here sport brand-new keys, some cut* and tuned just this morning. Each key has two frequencies, a semi-cylindrical primary pitch and a full-cylindrical resonator tuned slightly lower than the primary. Check out my blog for photos: qiancomposes.blogspot.com

*Cut to shape, not cut from the ground. Bamboo must be dried for at least a year before it's stable enough to hold pitch.

Gerantang big group rehearsal

This is the new composition I noticed I Made Terip mulling over in my blog post http://tinyurl.com/7tbpz2g. I recorded it at the players' request some 30 feet away from the rehearsal space. The acoustics are unfortunate but I believe this sample conveys the playful energy of the piece. 

It offers fuzzy glimpse of the studio quality CD to be released by Aneka Records. That collection includes 12- and 5-member gerantang, or suspended bamboo ensemble, pieces in contemporary and classical styles. $12-20 sliding scale, no shipping fee for orders of 10 or more. See my blog for deets.

Purna Jiwa for gerantang by I Made Terip

A classical style gerantang (suspended bamboo keys) composition recorded during rehearsal on a new pair of instruments. I Made Terip and I Ketut Sudarmawan on gerantang, Komang Budiastrawan on flute.

Gerantang sample

Also called Delima Manis, this gorgeous gender wayang piece from Munduk features melodies  that emerge and scatter one after another as if they were concurrently sounding in some unheard world. Listen for the gently oscillating resurfacing motive in the right hand.

You can see a video on my youtube, agentoftransformation

Players: I Made Terip, Qian Li

Jewuk Linglang selection

For SATB divisi with optional drum and bell; this is a demo I sang over MIDI. The score is here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1YIvutXC-owgbX7jf7EAQ65jmQHlstNYJ
Pāli is the language in which the Buddha’s teachings were first recorded after his death. The teachings are preserved by oral tradition among monastics through unison chanting. I have made my best effort to keep the meter of traditional chanting in this upbeat arrangement in a classical contemporary style.

Karaniya Metta Sutta

Classically-trained agent of transformation. Currently I am uploading an improv-a-day. In the past I have recorded in north Bali, Indonesia and composed for professional musicians. I'm always interested in collaborations with performers, so please comment!

Keizen

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