Report:Gender Fusion Australian Tour !!
BALI CULTURE IN AUSTRALIA
Yayasan Suara Dana group at Byron Bay, Australia
Richard Kaal and the Wintermoon festival invited the Gender group
including a Jauk Manis dancer to perform at the Festival in Queensland,
Australia, 4th May 2007.
This tour was very successful in showing Australians the true Balinese
music and dance. The fusion music of western song and gender has
impressed many people including some of the best musicians of the
country who played at the festival.
Wintermoon Festival----"where
I had the pleasure of sharing the lead vocal with Richard Kaal &
having a balinese vocalist improvise over the final chorus. I have
never felt that high onstage!"---- Liz Frencham - Jigzag
Gender Fusion performing at Wintermoon Festival 2007
The Balinese Yayasan Suara Dana group members are:
I Ketut Suardana, I Komang Mustika, I Made Subandi and Dona Lolot.
I Ketut Suardana played Gender , he has a vast knowledge of
many instruments and has taught himself the rare Saron in the Saron
Luang group. He is the founder of the Yayasan Suara Dana. (foundation)
I Made Subandi
The Jauh Manis dance was performed by renowned musician/dancer I Made Subandi.
Made hails from Gianyar, Bali and is one of Balis most respected
teachers of all gamelan gong instruments. He has composed numerous new
pieces for the Gamelan in Bali and abroad.
Made played traditional Gender, kendang , gongs and also sang balinese style with the fusion music.
I Komang Mustika played the Gender and Kendang (Balinese
drum), he is a musician dedicated to learning the old music, quickly
disappearing. He also plays in the Salonding, Gambang Saron Luang and
plays Kendang in his local village Gamelan Semara Pelulingan.
Dona Lolot is a Balinese musician who plays saxophone and has
a keen interest in the original Indian roots. Dona plays many Asian
instruments including Sitar. He played saxophone in the fusion music.
This group was joined by Richard Kaal, an Australian
musician recording a library of traditional Balinese music, living on
Gunung Batukaru in Tabanan, Bali. He has been working with Yayasan
Suara Dana group, writing new music in collaboration with Gender and
Salonding to produce fusion music.
The fusion music takes the form of songs written by Richard and Subandi
about various characters of the wayang kulit puppet performances based
on the Ramayana and Mahabrata stories of ancient India.
This gender fusion music was premiered at the performances , at Wintermoon festival in May 2007 and was a great success.
The gender traditionally supports the wayang Kulit performances.
The Jauk Manis dance costume.
Whilst in Australia the group performed at many schools in QLD to give
the children a close up view of the instruments and Jauh Manis costume.
Harristown High School, Toowoomba,QLD Australia
 
Students from Harristown School , Toowoomba QLD.
Komang helping a student play the gender. Richard and refugee from Africa chat.
Group photo with the Bahasa Indonesian class
 
Mercy College, Mackay, QLD Australia
Mercy College Students enjoy the experience.
Richard was master of ceremonies.
Steiner School, Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia
 
Children 'amazed' at the Jauk Manis performance by Subandi and crew.
The children were very keen to try the gender.
Group photo with the teachers at the school.
 
Subandi meets Trinity. Sienna tries on the Jauk mask.
Darling Heights State School.
 
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Radio Promotions,with interviews and performances.
Bay Fm Radio Station, Byron Bay, NSW, Australia
Radio ABC, Tropical North, Mackay, QLD, Australia
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Performances
A performance at the Lighthouse, Byron Bay, Australias most easterly point.
 
The group performed at a Balinese Dinner in Coolum,QLD,
where the guests were invited to try the instruments
 
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Wintermoon Festival
Chris and the Wintermoon bus picked the group up from Brisbane.
  
The Wharf stage at Wintermoon Festival.
 
Komang,Subandi,Dona and Richard backstage. Dona on the saxophone
Richard prepares the stage for a performance of the fusion music
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Workshops
Komang and Subandi conducted Gamelan workshops at Brisbane,Toowoomba and the Wintermoon festival.
Workshop with the Brisbane Gamelan
Subandi and Komang conduct a workshop with the Toowoomba Semar Pagulingan
Subandi helping Cynthia with a new piece of music
Richard can be contacted through email at
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