Flute & Gamelan of West Java [Import]

Flute & Gamelan of West Java (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 2, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Topic Records
• ASIN: B000005925
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #435,638 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #46 in Music > World Music > Far East & Asia > Indonesia > General
  • #81 in Music > Indie Music > World Music > Far East & Asia

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very nice recording of Javanese bamboo flute and gamelan, July 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Flute & Gamelan of West Java (Audio CD)

This is a very nice re-issue of an old recording by the great master of the bamboo flute (suling), Salaeman.

The first four tracks are wonderful kacapi-suling pieces, which made a lasting impression on me. The melodies and the beautifully executed variations on it evoke pictures of soaring birds, the tranquility of a forest hermitage, flowers. They echo in the mind long after the music has finished. In my experience this music is highly appreciated also by people who have never heard any Indonesian music before. A sound sample is available here.

The other tracks are Cirebon gamelan pieces, mainly dance tracks (without the dancers unfortunately) in the slendro pentatonic scale, which do not quite make the impression the first side of the record makes. They do give a rare glimpse into the world of Cirebon Javanese gamelan, a style distinct from the more well-known Central Java tradition, and closer to the Sunda way of playing, with a rippling multi-layer melody on t! ! he metallophones (the fastest one played by two interlocking instruments) accompanied by very nice drumming.