Meong Yuda (Warrior Cat)

for Balinese Gamelan Angklung and Japanese 21-String Koto or Koto Quartet

Asian musical traditions and contemporary energy collide in this rhythmically exhilarating work for Japanese and Balinese instruments.

Excerpt for Koto Quartet and Gamelan (live recording):

Excerpt for Koto and Gamelan (studio recording):

Complete piece for Koto Quartet and Gamelan (live recording):

Duration: 9 minutes
Difficulty: Advanced. Suitable for professional koto players and community or professional gamelan ensembles.

Written for Ryuko Mizutani and Gamelan Lila Muni of Rochester, NY

I love to immerse myself in the musical traditions of far-flung lands. After four years of learning Balinese music as a member of Gamelan Lila Muni, I was invited by koto virtuoso Ryuko Mizutani to compose a piece that she could play along with the gamelan. Thrilled by the challenge, I wrote a work which is deeply inspired by the structure, melodic flow, and layering of Balinese music, but with my own highly complex and nontraditional rhythms and harmonies.  The koto hovers above it all, somewhat like an electric guitar riffing and soloing above a band. We made an excellent studio recording, and the next year Ryuko asked if I wanted to expand the koto part to a koto quartet. The resulting piece and performance were an absolute highlight of my musical life.

I would LOVE to arrange this piece for other ensembles, Western or non-Western. Please get in touch if you have a performing group in mind, and let's discuss!

Premiere: 2/7/05 – Rochester, New York
Ryuko Mizutani, Kayoko Nakagawa, Miki Maruta, Yoko Nishi - kotos
Gamelan Lila Muni led by Clay Greenberg

Score Preview