World music: Bali

Tucked away in the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music lies the well-established Music of Bali Ensemble, a group consisting of 40 of UCLA’s best Balinese-trained dancers and musicians. For years, the ensemble has produced a wide range of unlikely musical combinations from this corner of campus, all while maintaining traditional Balinese rhythms.

On occasion, Balinese performances incorporate dance and music to tell a story, from either traditional tales to collaborations with other musical departments. By implementing traditional techniques in gamelan gong kebyar, a genre of Balinese music, the ensemble achieves a colorful and vivid production of fast-paced rhythms and sounds with an upbeat clashing of chimes.

According to I Nyoman Wenten, who teaches music classes and heads the Music of Bali Ensemble at UCLA, the ensemble has undergone many ventures, including the unlikely pairing of traditional Balinese music with the Los Angeles-based dancing company Rhapsody in Taps. The collaborative effort traveled to Canada, New York and Bali to perform the choreographed clash of cultures.

Even with the many collaborations, traditional techniques are still practiced.

“You will see music very dynamic in terms of energy, very high in energy, quick pace and many different kinds of rhythm, and you will see beautiful color … from traditional music to new, contemporary Balinese music,” Wenten said.