Since the early history of Indonesia, the Indonesian people have continually been in contact with a number of foreign cultures. Particularly, Hinduism, Islam, and the West have had significant impact on the development of Indonesian arts and culture. This course is designed as an introduction to the rich performing arts and culture of Indonesia. A principal theme will be the differing experiences of historical development, colonization, decolonization, and modernization in the two neighboring and related traditional cultures of Java and Bali. A portion of the course is devoted to demonstrations and workshops, including instruction on the performance of terbangan (a frame drum ensemble), gamelan (percussion ensembles of Java and Bali), and kechak (a Balinese musical drama, employing complex rhythmic play, chanting, and storytelling). |