Indonesian Gamelan Flashcards
taksu
Combination of sekala and niskala; Most sought-after achievement in performance
sekala
technical mastery specific to dance/theater/music (tangible)
niskala
spirit/persona gifted from Gods/deities (intangible)
Tasku impacts others surrounding musicians by…
elevating them to greater level of performance.
Three categories of Balinese gamelan are…
(1) ancient gamelan (kuno)
(2) middle-age gamelan (madya)
(3) new/more recent gamelan (baru)
ancient gamelan (AKA gamelan kuno)
Mostly sacred; Inside temples; Smaller size; NO KENDANG (drum)
middle-age gamelan (AKA gamelan madya)
Primarily features drums/gongs; Drum have significant leadership role in ensemble; MAN LEADS
new/more recent gamelan (AKA gamelan baru)
Drums have significant leadership role in ensemble; Drummers required to perform with gaya; High virtuosic competence in improvisation; WOMAN LEADS
gaya
flashy, demonstrative energy
Instruments found in the gong kebyar ensemble include…
gangsa, reyong, gong ageng, kempur, kemong, panggul, kendang, suling, rebab; MOSTLY MADE OF BRONZE
Drumming types found in the gong kebyar ensemble include…
(1) solo drumming (kendang tunggal) and (2) paired drumming (kendang mepasangan).
gangsa
metallophone instrument on wooden frame
reyong
set of pitch kettle gongs
gong ageng, kempur, kemong
unpitched hanging gongs
panggul
variety of mallets to strike these instruments
kendang
two-headed drum
suling
bamboo flute
rebab
bowed chordophone
bebas
Free (literal translation); Describes act of improvisation in solo drumming
What and how is bebas used?
Rarely used as an invitation to create spontaneous patterns; Refers to recreation/recycling of stock phrase based on drummers’ rhythmic vocabulary
Aspects of drumming improvisation include…
(1) meguru gending, (2) kutang-dudak, (3) meguru igel
meguru gending
Applicable to solo drumming; Method for choosing/creating drum patterns that will fit with specific melody/meter markings
kutang-dudak
Collective improvisation for paired drumming; Drummers creatively change basic paired drumming patterns by manipulating/transforming sounds, anticipating their partner’s strokes, and syncopating in unpredictable ways
meguru igel
Applicable to solo drumming; Method for drummers react/anticipate movements in dances that do not have fixed choreography
The most widely know genre of Balinese gamelan is…
gong kebyar.
kebyar
to flare up or burst open (refer to explosive changes in tempo/dynamic characteristic of style)
Tuning systems within a full gamelan include…
(1) slendro and (2) pelog.
pathetan
tuning system
slendro
five tones per octave
pelog
seven tones per octave
Javanese gamelan music is structured based on…
repeating cycles featuring gradual development/variation/elaboration and improvisational elements.
Role of drummer in gamelan performance is to…
lead cues; establish eye contact; monitor group; dictate order/nature of rehearsal/performance procedures.
