ensemble nist-nah

Gongs, xylophones, bells, cymbals, drums, metallophones, sometimes also winds or strings, linked together in an orchestra of a single musical device: the gamelan. This collective instrument from Indonesia has been part of the culture of the islands of Java and Bali for over a millennium. Sculptures and relief panels in the Borobudur temple, the largest Buddhist shrine in the world dating back to the 8th century, already depict the instrument and the practice associated with it, which continues to be passed down from generation to generation and played in ceremonies, rituals, theaters, festivals and concerts.

But the gamelan of Ensemble Nist-Nah is not, and does not want to be, a traditional gamelan played by eight musicians based in France. This hybrid percussion group was born in 2019 by Will Guthrie, a great admirer of the music made with this orchestral instrument, studying it on several trips to Indonesia. Based on this knowledge, Will and his ensemble perform pieces influenced by various traditional music from Southeast Asia – from the imposing Indonesian Sekaten ceremony, to the delirious repetition that accompanies the Jathilan ritual, or the music of Balinese composer Dewa Alit. However, what the group creates is anything but traditional music, as evidenced by their debut album, ELDERS (2022), released by Black Truflle Records.

With the gamelan, Ensemble Nist-Nah is far from exoticism and academic exploration. On stage, the group expands percussion practices, paying homage to instrumentation and praising the collective aspect of the gamelan, which connects children and adults, beginners and veterans, in communion around percussion music.

seated audience