Fulbright Visiting Scholar Professor I Nyoman (Komang) Astita, a master of gamelan musicianship and well known for his performances in Bali and throughout the globe, joins guest artists for an evening of Balinese movement and dance Monday, Oct. 30, 6:30 p.m. at the Nott Memorial.
The event, sponsored by East Asian Studies and the Department of Music, unites faculty and students from Astita’s class on The Music and Culture of Bali; the Asian Percussion Workshop, taught in conjunction with Professor Jennifer Matsue; select Union College dancers and three very special guests. Astita’s brother, I Ketut Gede Asnawa who is currently teaching at the University of Illinois, Champaigne-Urbana, will lead the performance. Asnawa’s daughter, Ayu Putu Niastarika (Tarika), a college student in Kansas and long-time performer of Balinese dance, will perform a special number. Also contributing to the performance will be I Nyoman Saptanyana from the Indonesian Consulate.
Balinese culture is best identified through its dance and drama and well-known for its use of the gamelan musical ensemble in music. Originating from Indonesia, a gamelan features a specific set of instruments all built and tuned to be played together and not be interchanged with other gamelans. The ensembles typically include metallophones, xylophones, drums, gongs, bamboo flutes, bowed and plucked strings and even vocalists. The word “gamel” means to strike or hammer, and gamelan music often features a rhythmic repetition or repeated pattern in pitch or a complete melody which blends wonderfully with Balinese dance.
In addition to teaching music classes throughout the fall ’06 term, Astita will be performing at Union and at other area colleges.
Astita is a faculty member at the Indonesia Institute of the Arts in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. He holds a diploma in music from the Denpasar Conservatory, a bachelor’s in dance from the Dance Academy in Denpasar and a Masters of Arts in musicology from San Diego State University.
For more information contact Jennifer Matsue in the Department of Music at 388-8075 or matsuej@union.edu