I recently had the opportunity to attend and record a traditional new moon ceremony in Ubud, Bali. Our landlord, who is a local resident, kindly invited us to join her in the ceremony and I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity to capture the unique sounds of the event.

As soon as we arrived at the temple, I could see that it was going to be a special occasion. The temple was bustling with activity as people of all ages dressed in traditional clothing arrived to offer their prayers and make their offerings. I quickly set up my equipment, including the Soundman OKM II Rock Studio and the TASCAM PCM Recorder DR-07MK, and began recording.

The ceremony began with a procession of young priests carrying holy water and rice. They walked around the temple, stopping to sprinkle the holy water and rice on the attendees as a symbol of purification and blessings. The sound of the water and rice being sprinkled, along with the soft chanting and singing of the priests, created a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

As the ceremony progressed, different groups of people took turns performing different tasks. One group played traditional instruments such as gamelans and gongs, while others sang and prayed. The sounds of the instruments and the singing created a beautiful and harmonious soundscape that was truly unique and special.

One of the highlights of the ceremony was the moment when everyone lit their offerings and placed them in front of the temple. The sound of hundreds of people lighting their offerings simultaneously was truly breathtaking. The flickering lights and the sound of the offerings being placed created a truly magical and otherworldly atmosphere.

As the ceremony came to a close, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the opportunity to have witnessed and recorded such a special event. The sounds of the ceremony, from the traditional instruments and singing to the holy water and rice, have been captured and are now available in my Ceremony Sound Effect Library.

This library is a perfect resource for anyone interested in the sounds of traditional ceremonies, particularly those in Bali. Sound designers, film makers and anyone interested in the unique sounds of the island will find this library to be a valuable addition to their collection. It is my hope that by sharing these recordings, I am able to bring a piece of Bali’s rich culture and tradition to a wider audience.