Post on 29-Jan-2021
transcript
CONTENTS
TRADITIONSGatra: A Basic Concept of Traditional Javanese Gendingby Rahayu Supanggah
Wayang Wong Priangan: Dance Drama of West Javaby Yus Ruslaianatranslated, edited, and augmented by Kathy Foley
INTERVIEWSDivining the Diva: an interview with Nyi Tjondroloekitoby Nancy Cooper
Sinta Wullur and the Diatonic Gamelanby Huib Ramaer
Komang Astita: the performance of soundby Elaine Barkin
INSTRUMENTATIONGambang Cengkok in Slendro Manyuracompiled by Carter Scholz
SCORESTetabeuhan Sungut (Onomatopoeia)by Slamet Abdul Sjukur
a little piece for pianoforteby Michael Asmara
Rag for Deenaby Barbara Benary
Gending Moonby Lou Harrisonnotes by Jody Diamond
Waton by Komang Astitaby Elaine Barkin
Trimbat by Ida Bagus Made Widnyanaby Andrew McGraw
RECORDINGHomage to Tradition CD notesby Rahayu Supanggah
MONOGRAPH (print issue only)The Mills College Gamelan documented by Will Ditrichdesigned by Lou Harrison and William Colvig
EDITORIAL
Words from the past, music from the present, andhopes for the future are all presented in this edition ofBalungan. Through the years, many people havesubmitted articles and interviews that never appearedin print. We take this opportunity to bring some thosecontributions to light: Elaine Barkin’s 1990 interviewand report on Komang Astita's residency at UCLA in1995, and an extensive compendium of gambangcengkok compiled by Carter Scholz in the early 90s.
As happens with the passage of time, the gamelancommunity has lost many good friends and teachers inrecent years. Nancy Cooper gives us an interview ofone of the most popular and at the same time uniqueJavanese pesindhen, Nyi Tjondroloekito (192?–1997).Rag for Deena, by Barbara Benary, was dedicated toDeena Burton (1948–2005), an artist and scholar activein Indonesian arts in New York City. New music inIndonesia lost a great champion in Harry Roesli, adedicated composer and activist based in Bandung butwell known throughout the nation. Many will miss theAmerican composer and gamelan enthusiast LouHarrison (1917–2003). This issue includes a previouslyunpublished score, and the documentation of thegamelan Harrison and partner William Colvig(1917–2000) built at Mills College in California.
Two previously unpublished Indonesian composershave scores here. The composition by Slamet Sjukur isentirely vocal; a sort of “mouth-gamelan.” MichaelAsmara’s piece for piano is also quite theatrical.
The most recent information is in AndrewMcGraw’s discussion and transcriptions of Trimbat byIda Bagus Made Widnyana, drawn from Andy’s just-completed dissertation on new music in Bali. Also newto many readers will be the English version of RahayuSupanggah’s important theoretical article on theJavanese musical concept gatra, as well as the completenotes for his self-produced CD Homage to Tradition.
Looking to the future, this issue marks the debut ofthe electronic version of Balungan. Articles appear atwww.gamelan.org/balungan, with some additions.
I appreciate the support shown by several librariesto continue a print edition; an exclusive monographwill be included in each annual issue. OTOH,www.gamelan.org serves an ever-growing cyber-community of gamelan players, scholars, and othersinvolved in Indonesian arts and their internationalcounterparts.
jody diamondhanover, nh
7/7/2005
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Deena Burton1948 – 2005
1951 – 2005
Lou Harrison William Colvig1917 – 2003 1917 – 2000