Denison's Balinese Gamelan Ensemble, Dwara Udyani, will perform an interactive concert under the direction of Assistant Professor Jeremy Grimshaw at 8 p.m. on Thursday (Nov. 30) in Burton Morgan Atrium. The concert is free and open to the public.

At the heart of the gamelan music they play is the "kotekan" a musical structure in which layers of individually simple patterns are played in a complex interlocking fashion, creating a vibrant tapestry of composite melodies. It is a musical structure that embodies, through sound, an ideal model of community and cooperation.

The ensemble will perform a short program of Balinese gamelan music, give a demonstration of how the music is composed and played, and allow visitors to try out the instruments.

Gamelan Dwara Udyani began rehearsing in January 2006 and became officially established when esteemed Balinese musician Nyoman Saudin pronounced the traditional Hindu blessing on the ensemble. It's name, Dwara Udyani, given by Nyoman, translates as "The Gate to the Heavens" and refers to the spot on Denison's south quad, just across from the stairs leading up the hill, where the group practices in nice weather.

Dwara Udyani consists of 14 musicians, including Denison students, faculty, and members of thecommunity. Their instruments of choice are traditional Balinese instruments, including metallophones (metal xylophone-like instruments) of various sizes, gongs, and tuned bamboo angklung rattles.

Calendar Listing:

CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University, Granville -- A performance by Denison's Balinese Gamelan Ensemble, Dwara Udyani; 8 p.m., Thursday (Nov. 30), Burton Morgan Atrium. Free and open to the public. Call 740-587-6220 to confirm information.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

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