Mujo, by Gamelan Merdu Kumala

Mujo

by Gamelan Merdu Kumala

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ChrisHewitt Wonderful offering from Gamelan Merdu Kumala, it's exceptionally rare to hear Gamelan Gambuh performed at such a high level outside of Bali. Selamat! Favorite track: Pesisin Segara.

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1.	Bapang Gede 07:19	info	buy track
2.	Sandikala 10:21	info	buy track
3.	Pesisin Segara 09:42	lyrics	buy track
Ampuang angin ring sisin segara Segara genah sane suci Genah melasti Ombak ring pesisi nyujuh giri Mangda ajeg sutrepti Ida dane elingang sareng sami Ngiring mangkin meutsaha mereresik tincapang jeg baktine Sanghyang surya nyinarin gumine Mangda preside rahayu ring jagate (translation) The wind greets us on the coast The ocean is a holy place for cleansing ceremonies The waves reach out to the mountains Towards peace, beauty, and unity To you, never forget We must strive together to maintain our environment And express our love toward the earth The sun shines on us all bringing happiness and peace
4.	Langsing Tuban 11:21	info	buy track
5.	Lengker Cenik 08:19	info	buy track
6.	Sepuk Ngenget 07:01	info	buy track
7.	Jaran Sirig 06:00	info	buy track
8.	On The Way 04:26	info	buy track

about

“Mujo” is a Buddhist/Hindu concept in which all things are impermanent and transient in nature, and how longing for perfection and stability misleads people to unhappiness. I wanted to produce an album because Gamelan Merdu Kumala had grown to a place where we achieved deeper creativity and positive group dynamics. We came out of the pandemic strong, after a year of Zoom meetings, and were excited to be finally back practicing and performing again. In 2022, we took a trip to Denver, Colorado to join a gamelan festival, and also created and performed a live 60-minute-long original score for the film “The Adventures of Prince Achmed.” It was the right time to take this step and make a record.

But unlike the live performances we had been doing, making a musical record is a process of preserving songs to be…permanent. The idea of capturing highlights of this group and wishing them to last forever turned out to be the sentimental irony of making and naming this album.

From another angle, “Mujo” illustrates the movement and shifting nature of the album. We used three different types of gamelan: gamelan gambuh, one of the oldest surviving Balinese performing arts ensemble centered around meter-long flutes, Saih Pitu Alit, a custom 7-tone gamelan, and gamut, an a cappella ensemble. Fluidity between modern and traditional styles, instrumentation, and musical modes all mirror human experience and people’s journeys to achieve happiness. Our ending song “On The Way,” which was commissioned for GMK in 2021, captures hectic human lives as people on their vehicles drive past a busy intersection. In that piece, I’m maneuvering my motorbike through waves of heavy traffic to a gamelan rehearsal.

Mutability of “Mujo” also refers to major changes facing the ensemble this year: incorporation as a non-profit, changes in leadership, departing with the old set of gamelan, and welcoming the new set. Although the title came about after the fact, it summarizes why we made this record and how it transpired.

credits

released May 21, 2023

Artistic direction by Hirotaka Inuzuka

Recording musicians: Matthew Clough-Hunter, Shameen Cooper, Geoff Dent, Katrina Dent, Spencer Hauck, Anna Inuzuka, Hirotaka Inuzuka, Kayle Khanmohamed, Cordey Lopez, Arev Markarian, Eugene Moon, Danika Pryatna, Steve Sauté, Kerri Shak, Julie Simon, and Otto Stuparitz.

Recorded at Unity Studios, LA
Engineered, mixed, and mastered by Adam Berg
Assistants: Bryan Neville, Jordan McDonald, Lizzy Erickson

Produced by Gamelan Merdu Kumala
Album cover by Eugene Moon
Liner notes by Hirotaka Inuzuka

Special thanks: Bli Ciaaattt, Bapak I Nyoman Sudiana, Ni Komang Septriarti, I Ketut Mahardika, Bapak I Nyoman Wenten, I Putu Danika Pryatna, and Adam Berg.

Gamelan Merdu Kumala is an American gamelan, a community, and a grassroots organization based in Tujunga, California. Founded in 2014 by the artistic director, Hirotaka Inuzuka, this independent ensemble has performed throughout the greater Los Angeles area.

As a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, GMK aims to create greater shared experiences and unity through classes, performances, and production of new works; and to bring artistic fulfillment to individuals and extend the experience to communities in Southern California and beyond.

℗ © 2023 Gamelan Merdu Kumala
“All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.”

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Gamelan Merdu Kumala Los Angeles, California

Gamelan Merdu Kumala is an American gamelan, a community, and a grassroots organization based in Tujunga, California. This independent ensemble aims to create greater shared experiences and unity through classes, performances, and production of new works; and to bring artistic fulfillment to individuals and extend the experience to communities in Southern California and beyond. ... more

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