A Platform for Ethnically and Culturally Inspired Music
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ABOUT
Baliphonics presents the music of the low-country Bali ritual tradition of Sri Lanka in a sublime collaboration with contemporary jazz and improvisation. The Bali ritual is an astrological, healing ritual that displays the tradition's artistry to the highest level. However, this ritual is facing extinction due to the effects of globalization and changes in modern society. The Baliphonics, with their mesmerizing live performances, show true potential in keeping alive this dying indigenous musical tradition in a global contemporary context.
The Baliphonics came to life in 2008 with drummer Sumudi Suraweera's initiation, through his long-standing research on the tradition of low-country ritual drumming and music. The ensemble was formed as a research project affiliated with Sumudi's doctorate in Ethnomusicology in New Zealand. As part of the project, Sumudi brought over three New Zealand musicians to Sri Lanka for one month, to collaborate with himself (on drums) and a family of three low-country ritual artists.
Isaac Smith, one of the New Zealanders, has continued to reside in Sri Lanka, absorbing the local culture over the past six years. The ensemble has also been through a number of reformations during this time. The current lineup, perhaps the most powerful to date, consists of a trio with Susantha Rupathilaka, Isaac Smith, and Sumudi Suraweera. As a result of working on the project over several years, the interactions among the musicians are at their strongest. This format also allows each individual to hold their own space more compared to previous larger versions of the ensemble, increasing the impact of the music.
Sumudi's adaptation of the low-country drumming language onto the Western drum set in the group opens up the possibility of transforming this age-old drumming tradition onto a global contemporary stage. The raw, original chanting, singing, and dancing performed by Susantha communicate the immense intensity and power of ritual music while being visually breathtaking. The experimental sounds and sonic textures provided by Isaac illustrate the high level of musical dialogue and interaction between the two musical cultures.
Recent concerts of Baliphonics at local festivals such as the Jaffna Music Festival, Musicmatters Festival, the British Council, and the Goethe Institute in Colombo have been received and regarded very highly by local audiences. The group has also been active in the Southeast Asian region over the past two years with concerts in Singapore and Malaysia.
It is time that audiences outside of Sri Lanka experience the Baliphonics, witness the traditional boundaries being pushed, and transcend themselves into the spirit of the Sri Lankan ritual!
The Baliphonics came to life in 2008 with drummer Sumudi Suraweera's initiation, through his long-standing research on the tradition of low-country ritual drumming and music. The ensemble was formed as a research project affiliated with Sumudi's doctorate in Ethnomusicology in New Zealand. As part of the project, Sumudi brought over three New Zealand musicians to Sri Lanka for one month, to collaborate with himself (on drums) and a family of three low-country ritual artists.
Isaac Smith, one of the New Zealanders, has continued to reside in Sri Lanka, absorbing the local culture over the past six years. The ensemble has also been through a number of reformations during this time. The current lineup, perhaps the most powerful to date, consists of a trio with Susantha Rupathilaka, Isaac Smith, and Sumudi Suraweera. As a result of working on the project over several years, the interactions among the musicians are at their strongest. This format also allows each individual to hold their own space more compared to previous larger versions of the ensemble, increasing the impact of the music.
Sumudi's adaptation of the low-country drumming language onto the Western drum set in the group opens up the possibility of transforming this age-old drumming tradition onto a global contemporary stage. The raw, original chanting, singing, and dancing performed by Susantha communicate the immense intensity and power of ritual music while being visually breathtaking. The experimental sounds and sonic textures provided by Isaac illustrate the high level of musical dialogue and interaction between the two musical cultures.
Recent concerts of Baliphonics at local festivals such as the Jaffna Music Festival, Musicmatters Festival, the British Council, and the Goethe Institute in Colombo have been received and regarded very highly by local audiences. The group has also been active in the Southeast Asian region over the past two years with concerts in Singapore and Malaysia.
It is time that audiences outside of Sri Lanka experience the Baliphonics, witness the traditional boundaries being pushed, and transcend themselves into the spirit of the Sri Lankan ritual!
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