Indonesian gamelan is a centuries-old musical tradition that has been a fixture in Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Music Department since 2011. The University’s Gamelan Manik Kusuma ensemble features a variety of handcrafted instruments including drums, gongs and metallophones, which are collections of metal bars struck with a mallet, often accompanied by vocals and dance.
An instrumental investment
In spring 2023, Liz Macy, Ph.D., associate professor of Ethnomusicology, spearheaded the purchase of a new set of instruments, known as a gamelan gong kebyar, which is the most popular style of gamelan in Bali and the one most often used in competition. The search led to a set of instruments built in the 1960s by Bapak I Wayan Gebleran of Gong Bali, purchased by the governor of Kalimantan and given to Bapak I Wayan Susilo. MSU Denver purchased the instruments from Susilo’s family after his death, beginning their global journey to the Auraria Campus.
The carefully crated instruments were shipped from Bali to Long Beach, Calif., last fall. After arriving in December, the instruments were driven across the country to a cargo facility at Denver International Airport. Purchasing and shipping the instruments cost a total of almost $30,000.
After careful unpacking on the Auraria Campus, the instruments took center stage May 4 during the Gamelan Manik Kusuma ensemble’s end-of-the-semester concert, which also included a special blessing ceremony.
“The purpose of the ceremony is to give life and a soul to MSU Denver’s new gamelan gong kebyar,” Macy said. “This traditional ceremony is performed for the consecration of new Balinese ensembles, and our blessing ceremony (known as melaspas) was led by Bapak I Made Lasmawan.”
Gamelan gong kebyar is one of nearly 40 styles of gamelan from Bali. The term “kebyar” means “to flare up” or “burst open,” and the style is used throughout the island for entertainment, competition and spiritual ceremonies. Expanding to include this popular style of gamelan allows for new repertoire and exciting performance modalities, Macy said.
MSU Denver’s student gamelan ensemble is open to all students with no prerequisites. MUS 3834 meets each semester on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. in the King Center, Room 120. The ensemble performs a free end-of-semester concert in the King Center Concert Hall and regularly performs at such events as the Lunar New Year Celebration.
The above photo was taken by Sara Hertwig at the blessing ceremony in May.