Introduction to the Social and Cultural Study of Music Javanese Gamelan Week 3

Introduction to the Social and Cultural Study of Music

Javanese GamelanWeek 3

Javanese Gamelan

• “The 13 March, our general himself with many of his gentlemen and others, went to shore, and presented the king (of whom he was joyfully and lovingly received) with his music, and showed him the manner of our use of arms, by training his men with their pikes and other weapons which they had, before him. One day amongst the rest, viz., March 21, Raja Donan coming aboard us, in requital of our music which was made to him, presented our general with his country music, which though it were of a very strange kind, yet the sound was pleasant and delightful..” (Francis Drake, Raja Donan of Java, 1580)

• Debussy (1889 Paris Exposition; Pagodes) to Messaien (Turangalila)• Britten (Prince of the Pagodas)• Cage, Cowell, Reich• Lou Harrison 1981-2 Double Concerto for Violin, Cello and Gamelan• Why of such enduring interest in the west?

Javanese Gamelan

• Java• Hindu-Buddhist Majapahit kingdom

(11-15th century)- Muslim Mataram kingdom (17th century) - Dutch colonial rule 1755 - independence 1945

• Court (kraton)/wayang kulit/conservatory system

• Vocalists (pesindhen)• Many regional and popular varieties

and hybrids (e.g. kroncong)

• Bali• Flight of Majapahit kings in c. 1500• Hindu ritual context• Dutch in Bali early in 20th century• Dismantling of courts, distribution of

gamelan culture to villages• Gong Kebyar • No vocalists (dance)• Gender Wayang, and a variety of

regional, popular and devotional forms

Javanese GamelanPictures from Neil Sorrell, A Guide to the Gamelan, London: Faber 2000

Recording from Ben Brinner, Music in Central Java, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.

• Sléndro (12356)• Pélog (1234567)

Javanese gamelan: karawitan

• Balungan (‘skeleton’)

• Slethen and saron (‘wilah’ instruments)

Javanese gamelan: karawitan

• Phrase marking, or ‘colotomic’ instruments (‘pencon’ instruments)

• gong, kempul• kenong

Javanese gamelan: karawitanelaborating (garap)

Javanese gamelan: karawitanLeading the ensemble

• Rebab (aspects of mode, or ‘pathet’)

• Kendhang (aspects of large-scale rhythmic organization, or ‘irama’)

Javanese gamelan: karawitan

Javanese gamelan: karawitanPura Paku Alaman, Jogyakarta, dir. Wasitodipuro, recorded by Robert

Brown 1971