FAEZAN REDWAN (GAMELAN SPECIALIST/COMPOSER)

What is the gamelan?

“Gamelan is a music form that is eidetic to the islands of Bali and Java, Indonesia. The Gamelan has a history that goes back to the year 900 A.D. The word gamelan comes from the word ‘gamel’ which means to strike or to hammer - that is why most musical instruments have mallets. Think of it as ‘Gamel’ being the verb and ‘gamelan’ as the noun. So gamelan is something that is being hit or hammered upon.”

What are the origins of the pieces within the play? 

"It is a mixture of compositions between myself and Bryan Carmichael, one of the UWCSEA High School students involved. There are a few traditional pieces that originate from royal courts located in central Java. They may have significance or not, but in a contemporary theatre production there is no rule or tradition, and so we are free to try and express whatever works within the whole production."

Why was the gamelan chosen? 

"When I had the conversation with Miles Tranter and Jay Douglass, they agreed that because of the story, setting and discovery of identity, it would make a good dynamic if gamelan was used. The gamelan allows us to start contrasting the background of the society in the UK vs Indonesia. This is why the gamelan was the perfect instrument to showcase that."

Is there any relationship between the gamelan and the puppetry? 

"We are trying to be as free as possible but in actual tradition, there is a two-way relationship between puppets and cast on stage. If you watch a movie, the music will change with the scene, so it is the same concept - the music adds to the mood, suspense,  and excitement of it. So if the music does not synchronise with what is happening on stage, whether it is puppets or the cast, then the soundtrack does not work."

BRYAN CARMICHAEL (GRADE 11 STUDENT/COMPOSER)

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Why did you join this project?

“As part of the IB curriculum, there is a component that had to be fulfilled by a collaborative multimedia project. Later I was approached by Miles Tranter and Jay Douglass to take on this project as part of my component. By doing so, over the last couple of months, I’ve properly fallen in love with it.” 

What did you find challenging about composing gamelan?

“I had never really touched the gamelan before this, so the experience was all a learning experience. But the challenge was good enough to give your mind a little workout but not enough that it is hard for me to pick up.”

What have you learnt about composing for the Gamelan?

“Gamelan has a very different style of composing. One thing, they use different notation, another the tuning of all the instruments is different. So for the first couple of weeks, I was getting to know all of the instruments and the way that they sounded, as well as learning how to read the music and how to lay it out. Altogether the new and different sounds of the gamelan allowed me to open my eyes to new ideas.”

What have you enjoyed about working with an ensemble?

"I am happy to be able to work with people who have volunteered their time to produce something great. I think there is a mutual interest for the gamelan which I find is important for diversity purposes and also allows them to enrich their minds to new experiences. "

ENSEMBLE INTERVIEW

Why did you join the Gamelan ensemble? 

“ I joined the ensemble because in grade 4 I got to play the gamelan for one of our music units and I enjoyed it.” 

  - Aahana Naqvi

“I joined because I have a passion for music and I think it would be good to be part of a performance like this.” 

- Theo Cooke

“I joined because I am Indonesian and thought this would be a fun experience to learn more about my culture.”  

   - Athaya Ayesha

“I joined because I thought this would be an interesting activity to do as I had never done anything like it before.” 

   - Zoe Arwas 

What have you learnt from this experience?

“I have learnt about the culture and traditions surrounding gamelan. Learning about the correct ways you sit while playing, the cycles and music notations, etc.” 

- Aahana Naqvi

“I have learnt many new skills through this experience. Specifically ‘damping’, an important skill to know when playing the gamelan instruments." 

- Theo Cooke 

“I learnt how to play with a smaller orchestra as the other orchestras I work with are relatively larger than the gamelan ensemble.” 

- Ben Ong

“I have learnt many different instruments but my favourite is the ‘Kethuk’.” 

- Lyla Brogden

What have you found most challenging about this experience?

“Keeping up with the music was the hardest, but with a lot of practice I think I’ve got it down.” 

  - Ella Freyburger 

“In the beginning we kept rotating instruments making it hard to catch up to the music we played.” 

  - Tansin May 

“The hardest part was learning how to play the instruments itself.” 

   - Zoe Arwas 

“I found it hard remembering where I am with the music as the tempo was sometimes too fast or too slow.” 

        - Lyla Brogden

What have you enjoyed from this experience?

“I enjoy learning all the different songs even though they provide their own individual challenges.” 

- Theo Cooke

“I enjoyed playing a new form of music as I love playing music!”  

- Ben Ong

“I enjoyed playing new pieces, and yes I would mess up but that was part of the fun.” 

- Ella Freyburger 

“I liked when we all played the song perfectly as we were all so happy when it happened.” 

- Tansin May 

“I liked it when we played around together as a group and finally being able to synchronise with each other.” 

- Athaya Ayesha