Welcome back to A SLICE OF THE ORIENT!
We’re going on a journey across the continent in search of some of the last remaining pockets of traditional music, with the hope to help preserve the insanely unique music traditions still alive today.

In this episode we’re excited to share with you all a Balinese gamelan performance performed right in the heart of the Badung regency in Bali, Indonesia, where we were invited to join the Banjar Buni Kuta community at their temple known as “Pura Panghulun Banjar Buni”.

Gamelan is a traditional ensemble music from Indonesia, particularly Java and Bali. The ensemble typically features instruments like the "gong ageng" (largest gong), "saron" (xylophone-like instrument), "kendang" (drum), and "gamelan bonang" (rows of small gongs). These instruments come together to create an intricate cacophony of polyrhythmic compositions, that are integral to Indonesian cultural and artistic expressions.

Pura Panghulun Banjar Buni has been a pillar of community, education and culture for the Buni Kuta community for generations. Celebrating the anniversary of their Banjar, we where treated to an intensely spiritual ceremony, filled with food, dance, worship, gamelan and a kecak performance to end off the night. We found it hard to believe how lucky we were to be invited by our Balinese brother Nyoman Duta, to share in such a beautiful, unforgettable ceremony, rich in ancient traditions.

This episode marks the end of our time in Bali, and with our next episode we will continue our journey of cultural exploration through Indonesia, to the world’s most populous island Java.
WE HAVE SOME INSANE THINGS STILL TO COME, so please hit that SUBSCRIBE button and keep up to date, as we present our second episode, a taste of Balinese Gamelan performed by the Banjar Buni Kuta orchestra.