Benjamin Taylor and Dr. Jeremy Grimshaw, School of Music

This project greatly benefits the School of Music because it provides the Brigham Young University Gamelan Ensemble a new piece of music written specifically for their unique instrumentation. The BYU Gamelan Ensemble was recently formed in Fall 2008 under the direction of Jeremy Grimshaw. The ensemble plays custom made Balinese gamelan instruments imported from Bali, a small island near Indonesia. Traditionally, there were three types of gamelan each with distinct tuning systems. Consequently, each gamelan could only play one tuning system. However, BYU’s gamelan was uniquely constructed to combine all three tuning systems into one gamelan making it possible to play repertoire from any of the three tuning systems. There are currently only a few other gamelan ensembles in the world with this capability. There are also only a few rare pieces that make full use of all three tuning systems in one song. The combining of the three tunings systems is a new concept not developed in modern compositions for gamelan. Dr. Grimshaw and I researched and studied this area with the final result being a new, unique, composition for the BYU Gamelan Ensemble that utilized the combination of the three tuning systems.

To compose for gamelan is very different from composing for western instruments. In order to write for gamelan I had to research and learn about the tradition of Balinese gamelan music under the tutelage of Dr. Grimshaw. I also worked directly with students who participate in the BYU Gamelan Ensemble by attending several rehearsals and talking to them outside of class. The BYU Gamelan Ensemble will premier the new work entitled, “Agreed Silence” on their Fall 2011 concert.

This composition was a valuable learning experience and a wonderful capstone to my undergraduate education. In addition, this piece will become a strength in my composition portfolio that will be reviewed by graduate schools. In addition to the premier by the BYU Gamelan Ensemble in 2011, I anticipate that it will continue to receive performance by BYU’s ensemble as well as other gamelan ensembles that have the capacity to play all three tuning systems.

The Lord has asked that we “become acquainted with all good books, and with languages, tongues, and people” (D&C 90:15), “things which are at home, things which are abroad… and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms” (D&C 88:79). It is this pursuit of knowledge of foreign countries and cultures that we as children of God are embarked. Balinese Gamelan Music has a rich tradition that we can learn much from and apply it into our own culture and musical practice. My research of Balinese instruments and music will benefit all those students involved with the BYU Gamelan Ensemble as well as its audiences as they experience the rich tradition of Balinese Music.