Komang Astita: the performance of sound (interview)

This interview with composer Komang Astita, conducted by Elaine Barkin in Bali in 1990, explores his innovative approaches to contemporary Balinese music. Astita reflects on early works such as Eka Dasa Rudra, which drew from large ceremonial soundscapes, and later experiments like Pencon and Ngombak Buluh, which emphasize limited timbres, small ensembles, interlocking patterns, and theatrical movement. He discusses influences from ritual sound, jazz, and tradition, while expressing a desire to expand creative possibilities and bring new music beyond academic contexts into village life.