SOU Gamelan Degung Leuwi Asih – “Beloved Valley” Gamelan – directed by Barb Barasa will offer a free outdoor concert on Monday, June 11th, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Library Plaza in front of the Southern Oregon University Hannon Library. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will take place in the first floor fireplace alcove of the Library.
The ensemble will perform traditional gamelan degung music from the Sunda region of
Western Java. Each area of Indonesia has a distinct tuning system and style of playing. SOU’s gamelan ensemble plays music of the Sundanese people, an ethnic group that inhabits a small corner of the island of Java.
The term “gamelan” refers to chime, drum, and gong instruments and the people who play them. The SOU gamelan musicians are SOU students and community members. The ensemble is fortunate to have Andrea Schaffer as a member. Andrea studied Indonesian dance in Berkeley and will dance to some of the pieces at this performance.
Gamelan is an ancient form of music which originated on the islands of Indonesia. Traditional gamelan music is cyclic in form and ranges in spirit from meditative and mellow to very energetic. It has influenced western composers like Claude Debussy, John Cage, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, and Mickey Hart.
All ages are welcome at this free event! Bring your lunch and join us for this popular event. The performance coincides with the Paws for Relaxations pet therapy being held in the Hannon Library from 11:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Interviews: Barb Barasa 621-2739 barb@websitings.net
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