Gamelan Orchestra to bring tropical Bali to SUFebruary 20, 2004Amy Schmitzaemehrin@syr.edu
The Gamelan Orchestra of the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music will perform at Syracuse University on March 2. Part of the Setnor Tuesday Night Concert Series, the performance will begin at 8 p.m. in the Rose and Jules R. Setnor Auditorium, located in Crouse College.
Gamelan, derived from a Javanese term for striking a percussion instrument, refers collectively to a set of traditional musical instruments and the people who play them. Most gamelan orchestras consist of percussion instruments, including metallophones, gongs and drums, as well as flutes, string instruments and voices. This type of musical performance dates back to 800 A.D., with roots in the Southeast Asian Hindu Majapahit empire.
Since 1993, the Gamelan members at Eastman have included students, faculty and staff, as well as many members of the Rochester community. Learned through the aural tradition without notation, the music requires players to work together for long periods of time to learn the music and how to play it. The March 2 program will include traditional and contemporary Balinese music.
All Setnor Tuesday Concerts are free and open to the public. Parking is available at Irving Garage.
