Gamelan Dewi Malam

Inspired by the beautiful and magical music and culture of Bali, Gamelan Dewi Malam, or “Queen of the Night,” performs gamelan music faithful to the traditions of gamelan as seen and heard in Bali. Our instruments are traditional Balinese 4-tone gamelan angklung instruments. The group was founded in 2017, but members of our group have been playing gamelan for as much as 30 years, and have studied under numerous Balinese masters both in the US and Bali.

Gamelan Dewi Malam’s repertoire reflects the Hindu-Bali tradition that is unique to the island of Bali. We will discuss and demonstrate how these traditions are embodied in the music, from the offerings made before each performance, to the tuning of the instruments, the form of the music with its interlocking patterns and cycles of death and rebirth, and the dualism that the Balinese see everywhere in nature.