Gamelan Ensemble (2018)

The CU Balinese Gamelan Ensemble

Gamelan is a term used to describe a type of music and dance that originates from the Indonesian islands of Java and Bali. On the island of Bali, gamelan is found in many different forms and is represented by several kinds of ensembles, such as the one here at CU which is named Gamelan Genta Kencana (Holy Golden Sound). This set of instruments is a type known as gamelan angklung which uses a five-tone tuning system, originally from the northern area of Singaraja, where it is still used today to accompany village religious festivals and ceremonies. Gamelan Genta Kencana, like all gamelan in Bali, is considered sacred, and was created especially for CU Boulder and purchased with funds from the Chancellor’s Office and the College of Music. The gamelan orchestra was consecrated in a special ceremony in the College of Music on April 19, 1998.