the stirring of a thousand bells

Gamelan is one of the ancient music traditions of the world. In Solo, on the island of Java Indonesia, it's still a part of everyday life and an important cultural custom. A complex wonder of human invention, it comes from a timeless world of aural tradition, contemplation, and relaxed living. These two films by Matt Dunning capture the essence of the gamelan tradition, in the context of the changing modern world. The Stirring of a Thousand Bells, the main attraction of this DVD, is a 35-minute sequence of audio/visual beauty centering around Gamelan Sekaten; a rarely-witnessed event that is performed once yearly at the Sekaten festival which marks the birthday of the prophet Mohamed. Sekaten is Java's most cosmic music festival, where the old world and the new are colliding, creating captivating images and sound. Srimpi Muncar is a form of Javanese classical court dancing held at the Mangkunegaran palace and is the feature of a bonus 15-minute film included on this DVD. This short blends aspects of the dance and its enchanting melodies with a variety of sublime images from throughout the island of Java, allowing the viewer to experience this magnificent island through eyes and ears. Feel what it's like to be lost in a world of history. DVD comes in a digipak with access to an online high-definition version available with proof of purchase.