Search - Manikasanti :: Bronze Blossoms

The incredibly rich gamelan tradition of Bali continues into the twenty-first century with Manikasanti! The name of the group derives from the name of the gamelan that they use: Manik means "jewel" and Santi menas "peace." Manikasanti's leader, I Wayan Sinti, was born in 1943 in Dauh Kutuh and is a music teacher at a specialty school. His career has spanned nearly forty years, and he is well known as a vocal music specialist with a strong backgournd in old gamelan music. He received an M.A. from the University of California - San Diego in 1981. He is very energetic in his activiites as a composer, and has provided a great number of pieces for the annual gamelan music contest. Most Balinese gamelan groups are traditional village groups with amateur musician from each village forming around that village's traditional instrument, but I Wayan Sinti, the leader of Manikasanti, has instead scouted the most talented palyers from across the island and formed a new diverse group of members who simply love to perform the music...this is the new face of Balinese gamelan!