ArtistInfo

Seka Gong Taruna Mekar
Returning Minimalism

Album US 2011 on Vital Records label
World (Gamelan)

Returning Minimalism (VR444) features new work for Balinese gamelan gong kebyar. Two Balinese composers, with virtuosic players from their gamelan ensembles, took on a unusual challenge—to create new works inspired by Terry Riley’s groundbreaking 1964 piece, In C, a founding work of minimalism. Using their extraordinary sense of ensemble and improvisational abilities, the artists regard one of the most potent styles of twentieth century Western music from a unique cultural perspective. In the process they confront ideas of freedom vs. constraint, individual vs. group, and the interactive nature of gamelan performance in a unique light. Their glowing creative response, and the reverberation of cultural ideas that arose within it, are described in extended notes. Returning Minimalism is the continuation of a project by John Noise Manis, and follows the Central Javanese sessions he captured in recordings featuring other outstanding Indonesian musicians. Recorded on February 8 and 9, 2011 at the Pura Dalem Munduk Sangkur, Tunjuk, Bali Realized by members of Seka Gong Taruna Mekar (Tunjuk) and Çudamani (Pengosekan).

Musicians

Seka Gong Taruna Mekar , album by

Composers

ArtistInfo App

Acknowledgements

ArtistInfo for Mac, iPad, and iPhone