hand2ear.com

Years ago I saw a Cambodian dance troup and heard a live gamelan for the first time; it was quite unforgettable. Recently I've been listening to a recording of Lou Harrison's gamelan music, and it ocurred to me that I have my own gamelan-like ensemble - my handbell choirs.

So I wrote a gamelan-like piece for the senior bell choir of seven ringers. I think it works very well; they almost have it learned in two rehearsals, and they seem to like it.

I named it 'Cengkok', a Balinese word which means 'a melodic pattern', or 'a whole melody', or 'a melodic phrase'. The meaning is pleasantly imprecise.