Concert response paper

Concert Response Gamelan Sari Raras and UC Berkeley Gamelan performance took place on the 8th of November at 7. 30 pm. The program consisted of 5 main pieces and intermission. The first part of the performance included Ladrang Wilujeng (laras pelog pathet lima), Harga Wisma (laras pelog pathet nem) and Gambyong Pareanom (laras pelog pathet lima). After a short intermission, the second part of the concert began; it consisted of Gendhing Erang-Erang – Ladrang Opak Apem and Gendhing Irim-Irim – Ladrand Bayemtur – Srepeg – Palaran Pangkur – Sampak (laras pelog pathet barang). Musical performance was directed by Midiyanto and accompanied by the guest dance company called Lestari Indonesia. This unusual performance created a great opportunity to appreciate the power of traditional Javanese music in real life.
Ladrang Wilujeng was the first piece performed during the concert. It was a good beginning because it introduced all spectators to unusual scales and harmonies used in traditional Javanese music. It was difficult to perceive the melody in the beginning because of its significant differences with Western music where rhythm and melody went together under any circumstances. However, after a couple of minutes there atmosphere in the hall changed; it was full of meditative vibes and made all spectators feel engaged in the performance. Harga Wisma followed the first piece and presented a good case of traditional Javanese vocal. The melody was very authentic and it made people feel as if they travelled to the place where the music was created. Gambyong Pareanom came next; it was a traditional Javanese dance performed by the troop of dancers who joined the musicians and helped them to showcase the best traditions of Javanese culture in one performance.
The second part of the performance began with a cheerful sound of Gendhing Erang-Erang to Ladrang Opak Apem. That piece was quite emotional as it was followed by a vocal party. Unusual vocal joined by a number of Javanese musical instruments created a strong feeling of Javanese culture to all spectators. That piece was followed by a composition consisting of several pieces with gong cycles. All cycles were different due to the scale used and beat structures. Sampak was the best part of all because it was more dynamic and cheerful in its mood. There was a small vocal party between some of the pieces; it was interesting because only a small group of musicians followed the vocalist. It was great to hear all diverse and changing musical elements used in traditional Javanese Gamelan in this cycle of pieces.
Summing up, this concert opened a new world of Gamelan to all people who came to get acquainted with Javanese music and wanted to appreciate its beauty once again. The music was complicated and totally different from what people search in music. It was spiritual, authentic and meditative. There was a great diversity of glockenspiels, gongs and bells that made the music sound like no other. After the concert, it was difficult for me to get back to a normal life for a couple of hours. It showed a totally different meaning of beauty and presented another culture to people who desired to learn more about it.