World Minerals

Today, we start with a fragment from the famous Icelandic singer Björk from a live-performance in 1994. In the song One Day, she incorporated, quite surprisingly, the Indian tabla and a gamelan ensemble, resulting in beautiful sounds.

Gamelan is the main traditional music style of Indonesia, and also the collective term used for the instruments that are used in this music. Gamelan music from Java and Bali are the most well-known. The name comes from the word gamel, which means to knock or hammer. An ensemble usually exists of percussion instruments like metallophones, hanging and lying gongs, xylophone and drums. Flutes and string instruments are added in a gamelan orchestra. All over the world, music lovers are fascinated by the beautifully organised and layered bronze metallic sound of the gamelan orchestra.

In this episode, we hear gamelan sounds in three different musical settings.

1. The album Ashira, released in the spring of 2025, features contemporary compositions from the Danish percussionist Jan Kadereit, written for a Balinese gamelan orchestra. It is performed by the Balinese gamelan orchestra Salukat with composer Kadereit behind drums now and then.

2. Music from the American film The Ice Storm from 1997, directed by Taiwanese Ang Lee. The story is set in 1973 around Thanksgiving, portraying two neighbouring, dysfunctional upper-class families in upstate New York that indulge in escapism, sexual experimentation and alcohol & drugs, resulting in a tragic end. The Canadian composer Mychael Danna wrote a fine score to accompany this drama, adding gamelan instruments to the western orchestra, which really shape the characteristics of the music.

3. Last but not least, this wonderful piece that was part of Javanese court repertoire in the 12th century, over 900 years ago. It is titled Kombang Mara, which means something like ‘the bumblebee is coming nearer’. We hear singer Nyi Cendani Raras in this recording from 2004.

Playlist

1. Title: One Day (fragment) – 1:11
   Performing: Björk and gamelan ensemble
   Composer: Björk
   MTV Unplugged, 1994
2. Title: Kampana – Vibration, Trembling – 6:25
   Performing: Jan Kadereit, Gamelan Salukat
   Composer:  Jan Kadereit
   Album: Ashira
   Label and year: One World Records JKONE25, 2025
3. Title: Mamdi – 6:21
   Performing: Jan Kadereit, Gamelan Salukat
   Composer:  Jan Kadereit
   Album: Ashira
   Label and year: One World Records JKONE25, 2025
4. Title: Bike Kiss (Alternate Version) – 0:55
   Performing: not listed
   Componist: Mychael Danna
   Album: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack The Ice Storm
   Label and year: Velvel VEL-79713-2, 1997
5. Title: Bathroom Visit – 1:37
   Performing: not listed
   Composer: Mychael Danna
   Album: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack The Ice Storm
   Label and year: Velvel VEL-79713-2, 1997
6. Title: Drive – 0:55
   Performing: not listed
   Composer: Mychael Danna
   Album: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack The Ice Storm
   Label and year: Velvel VEL-79713-2, 1997
7. Title: Pick-Up Paul – 2:30
   Performing: not listed
   Composer: Mychael Danna
   Album: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack The Ice Storm
   Label and year: Velvel VEL-79713-2, 1997
8. Title: Dinner – 0:22
   Performing: not listed
   Composer: Mychael Danna
   Album: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack The Ice Storm
   Label and year: Velvel VEL-79713-2, 1997
9. Title: Walk Home – 0:40
   Performing: not listed
   Composer: Mychael Danna
   Album: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack The Ice Storm
   Label and year: Velvel VEL-79713-2, 1997
10. Title: Finale – 9:24
    Performing: not listed
    Composer: Mychael Danna
    Album: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack The Ice Storm
    Label and year: Velvel VEL-79713-2, 1997
11. Title: Kombang Mara – 26:17
    Performing:  Nyi Cendani Raras (vocals), musicians from STSI (conservatory in Solo, Java) and from Kraton/Palace Surakarta/Solo
    Composer: trad.
    Album: Gamelan Of Central Java – VI. Kraton Surakarta
    Label and year: Felmay – FY 8103, 2004