Justin Harris

after removing my shoes and being instructed that i couldn’t step over any of the instruments, i felt a serious cultural transition from my russian history class that i had just finished up with. i had never seen such a set of beautiful instruments. i sat down in front of what looked like carved, old bells – not knowing that the instrument that i picked was one of the lead melodic instruments in the entire ensemble. (the gambang i believe?)

the melody was fairly simple – a few repeating lines over a sixteen count turnaround. i was told, because of my instrument, that the melody should be doubled in two different octaves. i tried to become more comfortable with the melody before i started to double it. it became a challenge playing two different octaves and attempting to mute each key it was struck by the paddles in my hands. although, after switching instruments, i realized that it was quite easier to play the melodic instruments than the percussive instruments. although i am fairly confident in my time keeping ability, being able to match up different beats with the right tone from the percussive instruments proved trying.
before we started playing anything at all, i was a little skeptical about how it would all sound together – but after everyone perfected their respective parts, each instrument added to a really nice whole. the bells fluttered, the gongs resounded, and i had a smile on my face.