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Tél: (514) 343-6111 # 5522
girikedaton@hotmail.com

The story of
Giri Kedaton...

Giri Kedaton, in Balinese, means "Royal Mountain".
During his stay in Montreal, I Wayan Suweca was astonished by the striking view of Mont-Royal(a giant hill) in the centre of the city, and suggested this name in reverence to the towering landmark. This is indeed an appropriate name for it has symbolic meaning for the Balinese, mountains have considerable spiritual significance, due in part to the still active volanoes on the island. So Giri Kedaton evokes this peculiar, concrete, and timeless bond between Bali and Montreal.

History

After the 1986 Universal Exhibition in Vancouver, the Indonesian governement, with the initiative of José Evangelista graciously donate to the Facutly of music of the University of Montreal two magnificent Balinese gamelans.

The subsequent year the Faculty added to its programs a "Balinese gamelan workshop", offered to music students as well as to non-students. Due to the popularity of this new exotic workshop, many Balinese music masters were invited to teach their art in Montreal from 1987 to 1995. Among these masters the music Facutly welcomed twice in residence I Wayan Suweca from Denpasar, I Komang Astita aslo twice, I Wayan Suweca from Batubulan and I Wayan Berata.

In 1995 Sylvain Mathieu took over teaching classes for the gamelan workshop. The idea then came along of creating a distinct ensemble apart from the gamelan workshop called Giri Kedaton. They made their first historical mark on the 14th of August 1994, in Alexandria, Ontario, when they gave their fisrt public performance.

In 2002 the ensemble was offically incorporated as an organisation called "Ensemble de musique balinaise Giri Kedaton" (Giri Kedaton Balinese music ensemble). The same year the music Faculty's dean Mr. Réjean Poirier, and the ensemble's artistic director Mr.Sylvain Mathieu, together signed an agreement that gives Giri Kedaton an "in residence" status. 2002 also marked the 50th anniversary of Canada-Indonesia relationships, as well as, coincidentally the ensemble's 50th concert since its creation.

In 2004-2005, to commemorate its 10th anniversary, Giri Kedaton presented a season of concerts showcasing a wide variety of Balinese music and culture, called «Pleines Lunes sur Bali» (Full moons over Bali). Since then, with their many acclaimed performancesm the Giri Kedaton ensemble has continued to enlighten the Montreal and Quebec cultural scene with Bali's exotic artistry.