Balinese instrument comes to university

Patrick Molina/Wake Forest UniversityWake Forest professor Elizabeth Clendinning was able to commission the construction of a one of a kind instrument called the “gamelan.” An ensemble of students, community members and Clendinning, an assistant professor of music, play the instrument.

The instrument itself is composed of several smaller sets of pieces, along with three larger gongs and authentic costumes.

An instrument native to Bali, the gamelan is a fairly common form of entertainment. However, it was originally played in royal courts and its cultural origins date back even further.

Playing the instrument is an ancient tradition that dates back a thousand years and has been taught…