Bali 1928: Gamelan Gong Kebyar – Emergence of Kebyar – Part 1



Kebyar came into being around the turn of the century and innovations were brewing between 1910 and 1915 in North Bali’s Buléléng region, the Dutch colonial administration center. Elders in Bungkulan have said that the musical dynamics of Dutch military marching bands influenced the nascient kebyar aesthetic. (Admittedly, the influence seems to have been limited to the element of explosive energy). The late 19th century, throughout the island, witnessed a creative era of Balinese–language gaguritan sung poetry (pupuh) taking on historical, mystical and romantic themes as well as sociopolitical topics expressed through the classical kakawin poetic style in the Old Javanese literary language of Kawi. At the turn of the century, a revival of interest in classical texts led to a plethora of seka papaosan literary clubs emphasizing the skills of recitation in Kawi and translation into the Balinese language using the stylized vocal phrasing of palawakya . Palawakya refers to non–metric prose ucapan ‘spoken’ in broad melodic contours, using either Kawi or alus ‘refined’ or ‘high,’ Balinese language. Literary clubs from different villages would compete against one another before ever–increasing audiences at ceremonial religious events and at night markets.

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Cupak Eats Land: A Modern Drama from Buleleng



Buleleng is not just rich with traditional art performances but also produces many creative modern art performaces, modern drama for instance. The example for this modern drama performace was staged on the opening night of  International Conference and Festival Cultural Identity of North Balinese. This modern drama was performed by Made Sukadana and his troupe, they performed a story entitled “Cupak makan tanah” (Cupak eats land).

This modern drama enacted a story about Cupak, an antagonist in traditional Balinese folktale “Cupak and Grantang”. Cupak had a strange apetite for land, he ate land. His underlings tried their best to find a delicious land to be eaten by Cupak, Cupak loved to eat beachfront estate, forest or lake side, but the kind of land Cupak love most was the land on which the house of representative stand so he ordered his underlings to get the land so he could enjoy the feast he had wait for a long time.

This modern drama is a form of social and political critic of popular issues that happen in Buleleng. It talks about land acquisition by the tourism magnate, corruption in house of representative and other up to date social problem.

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Lelongoran: Old Gamelan Style from Buleleng



Buleleng one of Bali regency is rich with gamelan repertoires, Lelengoran is one of them. Lelengoran is a gamelan style that is considered as the prototype of the popular Kebyar style. Lelegoran was introduced for the first time in the village of Bungkulan, in East Buleleng around and spread to West Buleleng around 1914.

Lelongoran is used to accompany religious ceremony in the temple and considered as sacred musical style. Though Lelongoran uses pentatonic scale like other Balinese gamelan, but it has a dynamic and explosive characteristic that differentiate it with other gamelan styles from other areas.

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Genjek: Jokes in a Song



One of many social art performances that are originated from Buleleng is Genjek. The word “genjek “is derived from the word “gonjak” means joke. It was born as a kill-time activity; it started through talking and accompanied by the tuak (sweet wine made from the coconut palm flower) then developed to a kind spontaneous singing performance.

Nowadays the genjek can be used as an extension of a person’s artistic expression as well as a medium for relaying information. The rapid popularity of genjek is understanable since one is free to create one’s own lyrics. Joy, is the basic characteristic of genjek, the joy of genjek comes from the lyric of its song. Often these lyrics take the form of love, bawdy jokes on everyday activities, criticism of politics, modern times, people’s changing values and so on. The public can easily relate to these messages, due to genjek’s simple and accessible form. Moreover, genjek lyrics always have the local audience in fits of laughter.

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Rengganis: The Symphony of Silence



One of many unique art performances that can be found in Buleleng is Rengganis. Rengganis is similar to acapella in Western country but Rengganis is not imitation of musical instruments but rather imitation of various frogs’ sounds. The word “rengganis” means “symphony of silence”. The song of Rengganis was created in the style of Dangdang Gula hymn.

The creator of Rengganis, Gusti Made Alit got his inspiration when he guarded the rice in the rice field after a harvest; he heard the sounds of various kinds of frogs like a melody in a silent night. The beauty of this melody inspired him to create the Rengganis.

Rengganis is a social art performance; it is performed to entertain guests in a ceremony or to enliven the atmosphere when drinking tuak.

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