Bali
Gender

Pronounced ("ghen-dair"), is a tuned metallophone from Bali, Indonesia. The "gender" is played with wooden mallets, one in each hand, and struck to produce sound. Once the note is struck and sounds, it is then immediately muffled by the palm of that same hand so as not to overlap pitches that follow. Played in a group of four, the genders play interweaving rhythms forming a hocket to create the melody and rhythmic cycles in the ensemble. This music is interwoven with religious and social ceremonies, and specifically accompanies the Balinese' shadow puppet theater ("Gender Wayang"), probably our first form of cinema.

The WORLD BEATS video features live, costumed performances of ancient, ethnic, percussive traditions. Aaron Plunkett puts it all together in this fascinating 33 minute program. SEE MORE...