Search - Gong Orchestra of Mundik :: Clash of the Gongs

Definite keeper in the historic perspective of Balinese musi

Sheila Huth | California | 05/19/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The music styles of North and South Bali remains divided...as was the case when keybar was born. This 1995 CD is one of the few must-haves in the gong kebyar genre of Bali for the early 1990s displaying the genius of the musicians of the North. Produced in France, by Jacques Fassola, it records for history, the amazing gamelan troupe, Merdangga Giri Kusma, from the small mountain village of Munduk and the amazing leader/composer, I Made Terip -- a 3rd generation musician/composer of gong kebyar, and of bamboo joged bungbung genres. European scholars have embrassed the North, while, sadly the US has and is more ready to study and applaud the Southern musicians...which is why there are few Northern recordings from the US. Recorded in Munduk, and in Sawan - a historically important area of kebyar, this recording is lightning-ly satisfying. Compositions by leading composers of the day: Terip, Jebeg, Windha, and then Parta's Danu Giri. The Munduk ensemble winning the 1991 Bali Art Festival competition for Windha's Jagra Parwata (Awakening of the Mountain) which Windha wrote for Munduk. Put on the headphones and turn it up! -- it's as fine a recording as you can get... with the vitality, and robust love-of-life passion of the North in the classic kebyar style of the 1990s. It's all you'll need. This ain't no Legong.



Also buy Bali, Musiques du Nord-Ouest by Ethnic label/Auvidis Dist. Again the music of Munduk and enviorns and Pak Terip with sacred and secular ensembles...again French, again Fasola ...



Come up to Munduk. The music is still alive in 2008.





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