In the two performances i was ask to watch and discuss, i found that they were both very different, in their sound, costume, and in the overrall performance itself.
In the first performance the Ratna Ayu, it was performed indoors on a stage setting where there was an audience. It seems like the performance was for some sort of a celebration or ritual. In this performance, the dancers seem like the main focus, while the music appear in the back round, nysnc with the dancers. The dancers were all woman, and their costumes were very glamerous. Also the performance had both male and female instruments such as the metal keyed instruements, small kettle gong, and large hand drum, from what i could see. Also at certain points during the performnace the musicans would chant and, also the music would at times get louder than mainly return to a softer sound.
In the Gamelan Bali Nyepi performance, the performance was held outside and was not being perform for an audience. The performance consisted of only men, who were sitting in a circle, wearing plain, simple white robes. The musicans were kinda excluding themselves from the people who were not playing music. There were no metal instruments but the music was mainly play by the kettle gongs.

second blog

Since i've been at Ucla, their has been a slow transition from me living in New York my whole life to coming to school out in California. When i initial came to ucla, i felt like an outsider becasue where i grew up, i was very shelter. My home town was predominantly white upper to middle class families, which lacks the diveristy here at UCLA. This made it easier for me to define who i was as an individual because i was surrounded by people who shared the same interests as me, but did not prepare me for the real world. In college, is where my identity was challenge because i was surround by students of different race, ethnicity, religions, etc. I felt like an outsider, and i had to learn to make friends with people who were different then me. This was very hard for me becasue my whole life i felt like i belong.
In class discusion about identity, we figure out some of the characterstics that made up your identity, which were cultural, physical, geography, personal, and social. This exercise help me to understand the Herndon article, "Insiders, Outsiders; Knowing Our Limits, Limiting Our Knowing because i realize that no matter what, everyone will be an outsider or insider due to their identity, and that if their an outsider, they will never be a true insider. For example when Chris came to do his presenatation on the Powwow, he appear to be an insider of that particualr study because it has been something hes been doing reserach on and very knowledgeable about it. Even though he may appear as an insider to us, but to the Native Americans, where the Powwow is part of their cultural sees Chris as an outsider. Another example is me, because i am from New York, no matter how accustome i become to California way of life, i will always be an outsider because my true roots are a New Yorker.
As i relate this to my music back round, i can say i love music and its a big part of my life, but i am an outsider to the music world. My knowledge of music is not as sharp as say history, and no matter what, i know that i will never be a true insider to the music world. I may learn alot about music after taking this class but i will still appear as an outsider to the individuals that have music be part of their identity.

first post

hi my name is Christina and the reason i am very interested in taking this class is to learn about music which is assocaited with different cultures around the world and expand my music knowledge. however, i do not have much of a music back round. i did do chorus for 8 years but quit after junior year in high school. i also played the clarinet in 5th and 6th grade, but that was really it. i enjoy all types of music, my favortie band is Dave Matthews. i love to listen to all types of music. i pretty much listen to music whenever i can, especially when i'm working out, hanging out in my room, and i love falling asleep to music. i have had a chance to travel around the world, and experience the culture's of many countries such as Brazil, Russia, Finland, Germany, France, and other European countries. when i was in germany i went and saw a symphony, and than in russia, i saw the nutcracker, which was a little bit different from the American version. on my dad's side of the family, their all 100 percent italian so i know and can understand some italian songs, but otherwise i would like to learn music from other cultures.