Recital of Music The Miracle of Bali

BBC Four Collections - specially chosen programmes

from the BBC archive.

For this collection, Sir David Attenborough

has chosen documentaries from the start of his career.

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are available on BBC iPlayer.

BALINESE MUSIC

DAVID ATTENBOROUGH: Most musical instruments in Bali

are made of bronze -

gongs in racks

hanging gongs, cymbals,

and many different kinds of metallophones -

instruments like xylophones but with metal keys.

Together with drums and flutes, they form orchestras called gamelan gong,

which may have over 30 players

and are the biggest musical ensemble in the world,

except for the symphony orchestra of the West.

In the village of Pliatan,

the gamelan gong usually begins an evening of music and dancing

with an overture specially composed

to show off the orchestra's dazzling virtuosity.

This one is called Kebyar Susun.

MUSIC FADES

Many of the dances of Bali are traditional.

But like every other art in this island,

dancing is continually developing.

The dance that follows now was created as recently as 1951,

by Mario, one of Bali's greatest dancers.

Its story is simple - boy meets girl -

only here they play the part of bumblebees.

The girl is Gusti Ayu Raka,

who created the role under Mario 17 years ago.

The man, Anak Agung Banme, ends the dance

by playing a triumphant melody

on an ancient instrument called a terompong.

The dance is called Tumulilingan Mengisap Sari,

"The Bumblebee Sips Honey".

MUSIC PLAYING

MUSIC FADES

There are many different kinds of musical ensemble in Bali,

apart from the full-scale gamelan gong.

Here are four - one of bamboo xylophones,

another very ancient one of jaws harps,

a small group of metallophones with bamboo shakers,

and lastly, a quartet of metallophones,

which produce one of the most melodious forms of chamber music

to be found on the island

and used to accompany the shadow play.

MUSIC PLAYING

ROOSTER CROWS

CHILD SHOUTS

MUSIC FADES

JAWS HARPS AND FLUTES PLAY

Now a warrior dance called a "baris".

It's a dance of great nervous tension

in which the warrior first preens himself in preparation for battle,

and then seeks his enemy, looking for him in every direction

as he nerves himself for the assault.

MUSIC PLAYING

For the finale, a "kecak", or "monkey dance".

This has developed from the traditional choruses

that accompany trance rituals.

Indeed, singers in the kecak chorus

may often, during a performance, come close to

a state of trance themselves.

There are many variations in different villages,

but all are based on Hindu myths.

Here in the village of Pliatan

the story concerns the abduction of King Rama's wife Sita

by the giant demon Ravana.

Hanuman, prince of the monkeys, comes to her rescue

aided by his monkey horde - the chorus.

A CAPPELLA CHANTING

A CAPPELLA SOLOIST AND CHORUS

PERFORMANCE ENDS ABRUPTLY

GAMELAN GONG PLAYS