Javanese Gamelan concert on Friday, May 6

Sorry if I haven't been updating this as much as I should - I just started a really cool part-time job at a local company. No, I'm not "flippin' burgers" - I'm actually using my linguistics background there...

Anyhow, just wanted to announce the concert that the UCSB Javanese gamelan will have on Friday, May 6, 8 PM in the Lotte Lehmann Concert Hall at UCSB. We'll have many guest dancers and musicians, including a few of my favorite teachers, Pak Djoko and the Wentens. Pak Djoko, what can I say about him - besides the fact that he still sounds like someone who just came here 10 months ago, when in fact he came over 10 years ago. He would say things like "OK, I don't think so he will come. OK, if not come, then play soooft, just like thaaat." You have to hear his speech - it's great.

Let me give you the rest of the info: ticket prices are $7 students/$12 general, at the door only. If you happen to see this blog, and are in the area, please let people know about this!

Cudamani's concert - what a show! (2)

I meant to put all of these photos within one post, but oh well... Back to the pictures:


Ah, the convenience of velcro and cloth-backed wood paneling. Usually these posts are made out of stone!! But, in this case, all you had to do was to rip the paneling off the velcroed frames. Very effective sets - the background sets were beautiful to look at.


The barong, protective spirit of the Balinese village, standing there majestically. This was the last item of the performance. When it's performed, the dancing style reminds a lot of people like an animated overgrown puppy. Despite the auspicious nature of this figure, the pelawatan (costume) itself is a pain to dance in - it's heavy. It's made of a huge bamboo frame decorated with tooled leather, pandanus fiber, and mirrors - not to mention the barong mask. Imagine putting a 35-50 lb. load on the back of your head. Top-heavy, to say the least... And the fibers make the costume a sweathouse. However, when you dance, you don't mind these minor inconveniences.

Well, that's all for the concert here - I wish that the rest of their tour be a success as well.

Cudamani's concert - what a show!

It's a Friday now, so it's been two days since the concert. However, I'm still beaming from the energy these guys had during the concert. The concert was a great success - the house was almost full, and these guys had a standing ovation. They deserved it, too - I've seen too many performances where standing ovations were given but weren't really deserved, imho.

Anyway, photos weren't allowed during the performance, but there was nothing preventing me from taking pictures after the performance. So, here are some shots:


Group shot of Çudamani (with me, the "white" one, in the back and center). I have another shot of them doing similar poses. These guys take their music very seriously, can't you tell? But they also like to have a really good time.


Hanging out with Pak Dewa Berata, the leader of the group. He was one of our directors for Gamelan Sekar Jaya, the group I was with for two years during my Berkeley "career". He's also helped me out during my research.


Some of the gangsa (metallophones) of Çudamani. This set is the one the group uses whenever it comes to the US.


Mr. HEBO doing a Baris-styled pose, my friend Sonja doing telinga kelinci (rabbit ears), and another friend, Sabrina, holding something or other. These folks obviously like to yuck it up for the camera...