Mas N Steel and Gamelan Ensemble Report

Mas N Steel is a Trinidadian-Style steelband that contains percussion instruments called "pans". This type of musical style originated in Trinidad and Tobago, where pans are the national instrument. Pans are made from 55 gallon steel drums and in-turn are part of the idiophone family. The steel "pan" is hit with sticks that have a rubber tip on the end. A few pan musicians are known for using four pan-sticks at once, two in each hand. This particular style is believed to have come from early 20th century carnival groups called Tamboo Bamboo. Through the exodus of Haiti to Trinidad, the modern steelpan evolved from a communication device to an instrument. The African slaves used drumming as a form of communication and also performed during celebrations. India and Africa were the two countries that influenced the drumming traditions the most. The first instruments of the steelpan family developed were called Tamboo Bamboos because they were tunable bamboo sticks. These Tamboo Bamboos were hit against the ground in sequence to produce a unique sound. By the 1930's the musicians started using metal percussion instruments such as the steelpan, and all-steel bands became the more popular form of entertainment, especially at carnivals. Modern steelpans are chromatic. Chromatic scales have twelve pitches about a half-step apart.

Gamelan Background Info:

"Gamelan" is an Indonesian word for "ensemble" or "orchestra". Usually the term Gamelan is used in relation to percussion-based musical ensembles in Bali, Java, and other Indonesian islands. A gamelan typically consists of a variety of different instruments: xylophones, metallophones, drums, and gongs. All of the instruments in any particular gamelan are built and tuned for each other. They are meant to work together in perfect union. The gamelan was influenced by the Hindu-Buddhist culture and the current gamelan instruments were created in the Majapahit Empire. There are many different forms of gamelan varying by geographic location. The main division in styles is between the Javanese, Balinese, and Sundanese peoples. The major type of Sundanese gamelan is called Gamelan Degung. Balinese gamelan, on the other hand, is most often thought of as Gamelan gong Kebyar because of its continuous fast changing tempo. Kebyar literally means "to flare up like a match". Another popular Balinese style is Kecak, which is basically a gamelan of voices. Javanese gamelan was mostly controlled by the courts and the upper class. It is known to have a slower, more meditative type of rhythm. Beleganjur gamelan, a Balinese style, is even played during Hindu-Balinese cremation processions. In Bali the act of cremation is considered the first step towards the freeing of the soul, which they call "atma". The procession involves all of the members of the deceased person's "banjar". "Banjar" usually means "villiage ward", but it makes more sense to call it a neighborhood assembly. The "Banjar" is behind the planning of the social and religious activities in the community. Gamelan is best described as "unique, tropical sounds of shimmering compositions and dynamic flurries of percussion performed on the exotic bronze instruments of the Balinese gamelan." (tunasmekar.org). It is commonly played at events called "puppet plays". In Indonesia "puppet plays" are known as "wayang kulit". Kulit stands for skin, and is describing the leather puppets that are carefully crafted with special tools. The lower pitched instruments, such as the gongs, play at a slower pace while the higher-pitched instruments play at a quicker pace. This creates a unique sound. During these puppet plays, the instruments are played with a softer mallet to ensure that the story-teller can be heard by the audience.

Mas N Steel Performance Description:

The Mas N Steel ensemble consisted of approximately eighteen musicians all wearing matching t-shirts and jeans. Apparently the FSU Mas N Steel ensemble is known for their "cool" t-shirts. The set-up is three horizontal lines of steelpan drummers along with a few shakers randomly distributed in the middle of the ensemble. The most popular instruments in the "pan family" are: Twelve Bass, Six Bass, Nine Bass, Tenor Bass, Six Pan, Cello, Triple Guitar, Double Guitar, and Double Tenor. Both male and female musicians played the steelpans. However, it seemed as though the only musicians playing the shaking instruments were female. The steelpan players danced in unison while the shakers just danced around to the rhythm. The pitch was mostly bass with a little baritone.

Gamelan Performance Description:

Performers dressed in traditional Balinese clothing. They wore red flashy outfits along with headpieces. There were drummers, gong players, and cymbal flute players. All of the instruments looked as though they were created carefully and the wooden frames for the instruments usually have designs carved in them. The gong cycle in the first performance was called a kajar. The second performance involved the composer from Bali and represented freedom of expression with spiritual power. This is also known as "Kreasi beleganjur", or "new creation beleganjur". In the third performance the musicians revolutionized contemporary Balinese music and were accompanied by dancers acting as birds. The Balinese warrior traditions are kept alive today through the gamelan warrior dancers. Each gamelan has their own particular tuning, which gives them a unique flow. The instruments are usually played in pairs; however, the tuning is set apart to create interference beats. Interference beats add the variety to gamelan ensembles and serve the purpose of helping one reach a more meditative state. Slendro and Pelog are the two main scales in gamelan. Slendro divides the octave into five