Mask update and Kecak...

Last night at kecak we learnt the song part of the chant. It is a beautiful melody, dancing over the pentatonic scale, in a free-form rhthym led by a soloist and answered with the chorus. It accompanies the action when [I'm not 100% sure, but 90% certain] Ravana kidnaps Sita, and Rama is all sad like...

"Sek Syuk Syor....Aung Syar
Si Gelo Syar, Si Gelo Syar
Ai....Ao e Ya o Sor

Aung Syar...Aung Ngar...Ya Ngar
Ngor Yangur Ya Es Syer, Ngor Yangur Ya Es Syer
Jang Jang Kija Janger, Jang Jang Kija Janger
Ya Ngar Kija Jang Sir

Ya Ngor Ya Ngar, Ya Ngor Ya Ngar
Ya NgorYanger Ya Sir, Ya NgorYanger Ya Sir
Ya Ngor Yangar, Yangor, Yangir
Ya Ngor Yangar, Yangor, Yangir
Yangor, Yangar, Yanger, Ya Sir,

Yangor Yangar Yanger Yangir
Yangor Yangar, Yangor Yangar, Yangor Yangar,
Yangur Yangar, Yangor Yangir, Yangur Yangar, Yangor Yangir,
Yangor Yangar Yanger Ya Sir"

The words don't literally translate, they merely hold vowels that carry the note (and, according to some linguists, the 'emotion'). It is sung in unison, the power and energy of the song coming from the one sound, broken up with passages of Kecak chanting in syncopation and rhthmic playfulness. I challenge any beat boxer/freestyler to catch the Kecak's flow- notes fall within semiquavers of each other, it requires an accute ear for other parts and an ability to hit the 'on' and the 'off'in the same pattern.

Yesterday, I got to play with a couple of Nyoman's primeminister masks. This one is a finished one (note the jewelled headpiece)...


And this is the one he will finish for me(it fits nicely around the chin)...


And here is mine, I'm starting to shape itto my face...


Almost finished sanding, she's about ready for paint...


I'm glad I have a wild mass of hair, as they often wear hair pieces/wigs here to cover the sharp difference between the mask and the human face. Ideally, the more flush you can get the mask, the better the fit (as well as the eyes/nose/mouth ratio).

ll start my second mask this afternoon. What will it be? Watch this space.