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LMCD 015
RE-RELEASED BY POPULAR DEMAND
THE 1994 CD - TRANCE GONG - BY THE
SEATTLE GAMELAN GROUP
GAMELAN PACIFICA
TRANCE GONG IS A TESTIMENT TO NEW MUSIC DIRECTIONS ON INDONESIAN GAMELAN INSTRUMENTS. THIS IS A
UNIQUE AND HISTORIC RECORDING FROM SEATTLE’S FOREMOST GAMELAN GROUP.
Music titles and select samples.mp3
Have a listen . . . . . . .
CD ARTWORK: ROBERT WILLIAMSON
TRANCE GONG is a remarkable recording made in Seattle by the group Gamelan
Pacifica. Initially released in 1994, Trance Gong helped bring a greater awareness to the wide range of possibilities in new gamelan music. Today it still stands as a landmark in international gamelan music. These recordings of works by contemporary composers John Cage, Jarrad Powell, Jon Keliehor and Jeff Morris are exceptionally wide ranging. "Trance Gong" and "Small Of My Back" mix gamelan and non-gamelan instruments in a style of performance enhanced composition. Co-written by four group members (Jon Keliehor, Jarrad Powell, Signy Jakobsdottir, Tom Fallat), the pieces show both the subtlety and dynamic range of the musicians of Gamelan Pacifica.
The powerful musicianship of erhu player Warren Chang brings an emotionally
charged presence to the cathedral-like structures of Jarrad Powell’s “Gending Erhu”, while an adaptation of John Cage’s 1948 classic, “In A Landscape” sends wave upon wave of gentle melody upon some distant shore. Jon Keliehor’s “Peaches Of Immortality”, extracted from an earlier presentation of Wu Cheng En’s classic folktale Monkey, brings the group through a series of intricately
layered plateaus of elaboration, found similarly in Sundanese and Balinese
music. “Rain” by Jeff Morris takes an earthy look at juxtaposed permutations of kotekan, and
it’s varying orchestrations.
The recordings on Trance Gong use both Javanese and American made (aluminium)
sets of gamelan instruments, intriguing in the completely different moods that
they evoke. These recordings are pretty much the music of explorers, taking the
listener on a wide ranging tour, revealing so many possibilities. This CD is a
wonderful document to the group's creative direction between 1990 - 1995.
Gamelan Pacifica are a professional ensemble performing an international style
of music reflective of their own musical tastes, interests, training, and
instincts. Although deeply based in traditional Indonesian gamelan idioms,
Gamelan Pacifica have established a reputation in the development of new music.
The door is wide open for music collaborations, inviting works from composers
world wide in the gamelan music community. They have premiered, commissioned,
and performed new works by Lou Harrison, KRT Wasitodiringrat, A.W. Sutrisno, I
Wayan Sadra, Janice Giteck, Jeff Morris, Jon Keliehor, Ingram Marshall, Jarrad
Powell, David Mahler, Bun Ching Lam, John Cage, Nancy Karp, Barbara Benary,
Tony Prabowo and others.
WHAT OTHERS SAY:
THE WIRE (London)
“The range of pieces is impressive . . . . . . . highly recommended.”
OPTION (Los Angeles)
"In all, music of serene beauty. This group . . is a leading innovator in
contemporary gamelan music, combining Balinese and Javanese traditions with
Western influences. All the pieces highlight the gamelan's delicacy and subtle
emotions.”
DOWNBEAT (USA)
"Gamelan Pacifica develops contemporary compositions for ancient mallet
instruments, influenced by traditional themes and rhythms. Pristine and
accomplished, Trance Gong captures the beauty, fragility, and meditative
aspects of instrumental gamelan music.” Very good/excellent - 4.5 stars.
