music and society in java

Question 1

javanese gamelan

Answer 1

-highly social
-multiplayer ensemble
-collaborative
= supporting structures and ‘hints’ help people know what to play and when
-co-operation and co-ordination - cues hidden within music for smoothness of transition and invisibility of direction

Question 2

Gamelan’s role in society

Answer 2

• expression of power -production of public sound, organisation and structuring of time
• accompanying - provides a backdrop of appropriate sound for events or for theatre and dance, accompanies major celebrations like weddings
• discourses of training and modelling behaviour - seen as training to become a good member of society

Question 3

expressing power

Answer 3

monggang - traditional closing piece played in palace e.g. for coronations, music on Saturdays (public sound) to show validity of palace spiritually (belief that sultan gains power ‘marrying’ Queen of South sea, music to reinforce belief)

Question 4

sekaten

Answer 4

festival

encouraged to play loudly as an expression of power e.g. make noise in palace and courtyard of mosques - unusual

Question 5

accompanying events and entertainment

Answer 5

• wayang (shadow puppetry) - requires gamelan, performed for hours at night, puppeteer makes a ‘hint’ for what piece is to be played next so ensemble must be ready at any moment and know wide range of repertoire
• dance happens at most social events - drummer follows dancer, ensemble follows drummer
• wedding receptions - music for when bride and groom meet, music to signal end of ceremony, etc.

Question 6

discourses of training and modelling behaviours

Answer 6

• link to traditions of training aesthetic sense, self-control, meditation - Court culture combining Hindu/Buddhist and Sufi ideas
• government women’s groups to promote interaction with women in Gamelan
• societal discourse
• song texts - lyrics about uniting nation and people etc.
• these ideas travel with Gamelan around the world e.g. educational programmes in UK such as Good Vibrations to help prisoners learn social skills or introducing children with special needs to music
• Gamelan is strongly social in its musical organisation