Gamelan Orchestra, street side performance, Tanah Lot, Bali, Indonesia

During my stay in Bali, I had rented a "motor bike", and as I was on my way to Tanah Lot, came across this Gamelan Orchestra set up along side the street. At first they weren't playing, but one of the many people who were gathering informed me that today was a cremation ceremony, and that it would be starting in 30 min. Having been in Bali for several days, I came to understand that "30 min" just meant something more like, "sometime today." So I mulled it over, "should I stay or should I go?" Fortunately, the Gamelan started up before I left, and I was able to watch several pieces. I only filmed the one, but I did get almost the whole piece. As I was deciding whether to stay, or move along, I began to hear singing coming from somewhere behind the building where the orchestra was set up. Just one man singing into a crude speaker system. I would have to assume that the songs were a part of the cremation ceremony. Many people were showing up in what seemed to be ceremonial garb, all with their head pieces on, and women with their colorful dresses on. After another short bit, I heard some sort of skin-headed drums being played with sticks, just over a wall of a small temple. I would guess that there were 2 to 3 drummers, playing very interesting and syncopated rhythms. There was a walkway with an inclined path that headed to where the drums were, and everyone arriving for the ceremony seemed to be headed there. I was curious, but also felt very out of place, and out of respect, didn’t walk back to that area. Essentially, this was someone’s funeral, and here I was, a tourist with a camera taking pictures and video. As I filmed the Gamelan, I still felt a certain reverence for what was going on, and tried to be as respectful as possible, and not get too in their faces. Playing music over there is such a different thing. There is definitely no ego in any of the musicians. They act as a whole, and simply play their part. There is no showmanship, or playing it up for an audience… Which, as an American musician who has played music in theme parks, and for big audiences in America, it was very refreshing to witness this. I know Bali is a very Hindu country, and they have ceremonies, and pay respect to the Hindu Gods daily, but I’m not sure if the gamelan music is necessarily religious or not. I also saw it being performed for “Balinese Dance” shows that are shows done for foreigners. So, whether or not this music is religious, or part of a ceremony, it always had a sort of meditative quality to it. I feel lucky to have been able to witness first hand, and up close, some of this beautiful music.