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For
most people in the West, the word 'orchestra' is likely to conjure
images of violins, flutes, celloes and dapper conductors.
In
Indonesia, however, an orchestra (known as a gamelan) comprises
a collection of instruments including bronze xylophones, gongs and
drums, which can be played by a group of ten to twenty people.
Now
the sound of the gamelan, which has influenced such artists as Bjork,
Evelyn Glennis and Philip Glass, is coming to Gloucestershire.
Cheltenham
International Festival has acquired a gamelan which is on display
at the Pittville Pump Room from Wednesday July 22, accompanied by
a photo exhibition showing its creation.
The
Festival hopes that the gamelan will be used by performers and the
public alike in workshops and concerts throughout the year, and
to help develop the Festival's world music and audience development
programme.
Metal
butterflies
The
actual music, in its traditional form, is based around a cyclical
repeating melody which is embellished by different kinds of instruments
playing rhythmic patterns around the notes of the main 'tune'.
The
sound of gamelan has been compared to water, rain, thunder or (the
festival favourite, from an eight year-old workshop participant),
'metal butterflies'.
Privilege
Toby
Smith, music festival artistic administrator, said: "It's been
a privilege to have worked with some of the finest craftsmen in
Java over the two years it has taken to create a Gamelan for Cheltenham.
"This
project has been a special one for me and although I am leaving
the Festivals in September, I know that the instruments will be
well-loved and will provide much pleasure for many people into the
future."
Music
education professionals have recognised the gamelan's potential
as a teaching tool, combining as it does a very simple playing technique
with a beautiful sound, allowing groups to perform very complex
music, although an individual player's part may be very simple.
Learning
The
ease of playing makes gamelan highly suitable for work with people
of all ages and abilities, ranging from primary-school children
to older people and those with special needs.
Howeber,
fewer western musicians have worked directly with an actual set
of gamelan instruments, as the tuning is different from western
scales, and it's difficult to combine with western instruments.
There are currently only 20 sets of gamelan in the UK.
Admittance
to view the gamelan and the accompanying exhibition is free. Contact
the Pump Room to check opening times on 01242 523852.
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The
hill are alive with the sound of Indonesian music...Cheltenham has
become home to a unique array of the country's instruments, whose
fans include Bjork and Philip Glass.
