- Clothing
- Performance Space
- Instrument Usage
"Ratna Ayu" looks as though it is a ceremonial piece. The focus of the song is on the woman who is in the middle of the circle with the white sash extending from her dress. I think that perhaps it may be a wedding song. Since she is always the focal point throughout the song, she must be someone of significance. When she sits atop the interlocked umbrella-like props, it feels as though she is being given a rite of passage (perhaps marriage). Finally, at the end of the song when all the performers are filing out, the sash on the main woman's dress looks similar to the train on a wedding dress. She is lastly followed by 2 girls in the back who sort of seem like bridesmaids who would normally hold the bride's train (in a Western wedding). The dance arena is very small. The musicians lie on the perimeter of the arena while the dancers take up the majority of the floor. In "Gamelan Bali Nyepi" the dance arena seems small as well. There are no danceers in the number and everyone plays a kethuk. This song is performed all by men. Each person is equally spaced across the arena. This signifies that the kethuk must be a man's instrument. In "Ratna Ayu" the dancers are all women. The instruments used there are bonangs and gambang. The gambang appears to be a female instrument. It has the qualities of a xylophone and has a high pitch as well. The length of the song also suggests that it is a ceremonial piece of great significance. The other song maintains a rather consistent beat, and no one plays a different melody or harmony. This might be a song that has much repetition in a ritual sense. Finally, clothing is very ornate in "Ratna Ayu" as it usually is with most women. Attire consists of a long skirt, a boldly colored top, a headdress, and immaculate hair. The men in the other song are shirtless and have matching pants and headbands. If this song had more significance as a ceremonial song, I think the men would be dressed up a little more.
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