Go global with UK Music at World Music and Dance Concert By Mark Mozingo
The University of Kentucky School of MusicWorld Music Ensembles will present the World Music and Dance Concert beginning 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the Singletary Center for the Arts Concert Hall. The concert is free and open to the public.
This concert will highlight the university’s world music groups, including the UK Bluegrass and Old-Time Ensemble and the UK Balinese Gamelan Angklung Langen Kerti Ensemble. Special features include the debut of Jean Ritchie's "Blue Diamond Mines" arranged collectively by the UK Balinese Gamelan Langen Kerti Ensemble.
A Balinese gamelan ensemble is a traditional percussion ensemble from Indonesia. The UK Balinese Gamelan Ensemble features the four-pitched gamelan angklung from Bali, and includes various large and medium bronze gongs, keyed xylophones of various sizes, drums, suling flutes and other percussion instruments like the distinctive turtle-shaped ceng ceng. Balinese gamelan is known for its shimmering, metallic sound and fast interlocking patterns called “kotekan.”
The Balinese gamelan angklung set used by the UK Gamelan Ensemble was purchased in 2016 and was given the name “Langen Kerti” in a special naming ceremony by Master Artist I Made Lasmawan. The expression “langen kerti” means to enjoy the activities of a happy life or to “follow your bliss.” In addition to the arrangement of “Blue Diamond Mines,” they will be performing the traditional piece “Ngedes Lemah” (“Sunrise”), “Belimbing Buluh” (“A Sour Starfruit”) composed by Made Lasmawan and “Angklung Kebyar: Art of Love” arranged by Han Kuo-Huang.
In addition, the concert will also include contemporary works such as "Double Music for Percussion Quartet" by John Cage and Lou Harrison performed by UK percussionstudents, as well as “Music for Gamelan Instruments, Microphones, Amplifiers, and Loudspeakers” by Alvin Lucier, both of which are inspired by gamelan in different ways. The Lucier piece will be performed by gamelan members, assisted by Aaron Hynds, D.M.A., from the UK School of Music who teaches Music Business and New Media.
Lastly, the program will feature a newcomer to the Lexington community, Marvin Adjei Larbi, who plays 11 instruments, nine of which are Ghanaian instruments. He will share a Ghanaian xylophone piece. Learn more about him and his music on his YouTube Channel.
For more information on the upcoming concert, visit the UK School of Music’s World Music Ensembles website.