Introduction to the Social and
Cultural Study of Music
Javanese Gamelan
Week 3
Javanese Gamelan
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“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)
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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
• Bali
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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)
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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 Gamelan
Pictures 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: karawitan
elaborating (garap)
Javanese gamelan: karawitan
Leading the ensemble
• Rebab (aspects of
mode, or ‘pathet’)
• Kendhang (aspects
of large-scale
rhythmic
organization, or
‘irama’)
Javanese gamelan: karawitan
Javanese gamelan: karawitan
Pura Paku Alaman, Jogyakarta, dir. Wasitodipuro, recorded by Robert
Brown 1971