Arja Opera - in the special language of Opera
Arja has a special accompaniment with a small orchestra. It is known to be difficult to perform and the drumming is possibly the most difficult in Bali. The lead drummer for this performance is I Wayan Tembres who was by this time a legendary drummer. His brother Nyoman Sadera joins him as a flute player. Flute accompaniment is essential in Balinese Arja and I am also playing flute with him. It is the one genre where the flute player gets a freedom of performance which is possibly the equivalent of improvisation in jazz.
The Balinese story of Jaya Pangus and Kang Can Wee is explained by the narrator.
The first character to enter is always the condong and she is followed by Kang Chin Wee. Kang Chin Wee is wondering where her husband has gone as he has not come home in a long time.
They exit and the servant of Dewi Danau the princess of the Lake (Batur) enters. She is lively and decides to have a bit of fun with the audience. She tells the audience that her name is Desak Rai which is her true name. The banter is interrupted by her mistress Dewi Danau who calls from off-stage . This is a common device in Arja. Rai moves aside and waits for her mistress to enter. As she goes to sit in front of the orchestra she sees the highly respected drummer sitting there and acknowledges him with a nod. Rai herself is one of the greats of Arja but she automatically bows to this man. That is Bali.
The two have some chatting about the members of the audience and then the servant says to the audience in jest, that her mistress (who is grand of stature) is about the size of the huge water bottle which is used in a dispenser (Aqua gallon). “No”’ says her mistress, who doesn’t seem offended by this, “I am a magic jar”, which is a large cooking utensil out of which comes delicious treats. She is indicating that you get more than you bargained for when you get her.
A bit more fun between Rai and Dewi Danau and they exit to make way for the appearance of the hero of the story Jaya Pangus. He will be revealed in Part 2. (to be continued)
21 сен 2024
