The third day of Classical Dance and Drama Performance (9/29/2007) presented three classic performances – another Leko performance from Badung regency, Gandrung from Denpasar municipality, and Cakepung from Karangasem regency. These three performances were staged indoor with better sitting place for the audience but lack of fresh air and dreary stage background and surrounding (performances in the first and second day were staged outdoor).

The first performance was Leko dance. Another Leko dance (the very same dance with the first performance in the first day of this show) but presented in different way, of course by another troupe. This time, the Leko dance was preceded by three preliminary dances. All these three preliminary dances were danced by very young dancers, their nervousness could clearly be seen in their face but they danced elegantly and manage to overcome their nervousness at the end.

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Citra Wistara Cakepung troupe was established in Buda Keling, Karangasem Regency in 1922 by the late Ida Wayan Oka Targi. Cakepung is a folk performance that is performed in relation with birth, wedding, cremation and fulfilling the vow ceremony. This folk-performance derives its name onomatopoeically from the sound of its accompaniment, a rhythmic vocal sound similar to that produced by the cak chorus. In the accompaniment, two dozen vocalists chant ‘pung-cakapung’ in unison. The songs of cakepung are derived from macapat song combines with pesantian elements.

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Cakepung is a male social performance, combination of singing and dancing, done strictly for recreation and amusement, and is found today only in Karangasem Regency and on Lombok, its former vassal state. This folk-performance derives its name onomatopoeically from the sound of its accompaniment, a rhythmic vocal sound similar to that produced by the cak chorus. In the accompaniment, two dozen vocalists chant ‘pung-cakapung’ in unison.

A performance of cakapung might take place any evening during leisure time. The dancers gather at about seven o’clock at the bale banjar with simple costume, a sarong, headdress, a shirt sometimes bare-chested. Some participants bring bottles of tuak (Balinese palm wine), brem (sweet wine) or arak (distilled palm wine).

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I was handed a wonderful gift today–a CD re-release of a recording that my Balinese suling teacher, I Gusti Putu Oka, made in 1985 (over 20 years ago!).

photo taken from murnis.com

The re-release was published some time in the last few years (while I wasn’t paying much attention) by Maharani in Denpasar. The cover reads “The Magic Traditional Balinese Music”, “The Tranquil Sound of Solo Bamboo Flute”, “with background Sounds of Nature”, Gusti Putu Oka.

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