essay Mengenang SANG GURU 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Performance Day I (August 26, 2007)
Performance Day 1 – All Artists
After the celebration was officially opened by the Regent of Gianyar, the show began and the spectators crowded in, full of enthusiasm to feel again after many years the taksu of two groups, Gunung Sari and Semara Pegulingan Gunung Jati. Besides those who attended by invitations, all the tickets were sold out far in advance, and the space open to the local people was also very crowded.
The show began with the performance by the Sekaa Gong Gunung Sari, founded by Anak Agung Gde Mandera, I Made Lebah, and friends, in 1926. They started their career as young men by taking part in celebrating the Galungan day, with ngelawang Barong, dancing Barong with simple musical accompaniment throughout the village. As they gained experience the group became more professional, combining the Barong with the Ardja Opera. With these works they performed in other regencies, Klungkung and Buleleng.
In Buleleng, north Bali, they heard live for the first time Gamelan Gong Kebyar which was so powerful, so they decided that someday they must have a group of Gamelan Gong Kebyar in Peliatan.
I Made Lebah (Doc. I Made Sukanda)
Since the age of 15, I Made Lebah had studied gamelan from Anak Agung Rai Prit in Sukawati. At that time the teacher was old, but still happy to teach. He would have been bored if nobody had come to study with him. The more people who wanted to learn, the happier he would be. Many of his students had become famous and admired musicians and composers — I Nyoman Kaler from Denpasar, I Wayan Lotring from Kuta, and I Made Lebah from Peliatan.
at about the same time Dewa Ketut Belatjing taught Anak Agung Gde Mandera and Gusti Made Sengong the Legong dance, which at that time (before the 1920’s) was unknown in Peliatan, where only Gambuh, Barong, Sanghyang, and Ardja dances were normally performed.
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Author : kadek ferry © f-studio
Photo 1 : Doc. Mengenang Sang Guru 2007
Photo 2 : Doc. I Made Sukanda
Thanks to Rodney Merrill