A high metallic shimmer combined with deep waves of reverb emanates from BYU’s Balinese gamelan orchestra. The ensemble’s name, Bintang Wahyu, means “Star of Vision,” a tie, both spiritual and phonetic, to its university. This ensemble of about 25 students plays enormous gongs, ornate bronze xylophones, bamboo flutes, and double-headed drums. Musicology assistant professor Jeremy Grimshaw brought this musical treasure to BYU in 2008, giving students an opportunity to explore Indonesian culture. “It’s a music that embodies ideas about community and about devotion, . . . things we can relate to,” says Grimshaw. | Photography: Mark Philbrick
Out of the Blue
