Java: Court Gamelan [Original recording remastered]

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 28, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 1971
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B000083GHN
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,875 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Ketawang: Puspåwårnå (Kinds of Flowers)

2. Gending: Tedjånåtå (Ruler of the Stars)/Ladrang Sembåwå/Ladrang Playon

3. Gending: Mandulpati (Strong Leader)/Ladrang Agun-Agun (Quickly)

4. Bubaran: Hudan Mas (Golden Rain)

Editorial Reviews

Album Description

The greatest collection of instruments--mainly metallophones and bronze gongs of different shapes and sizes--and the epitome of the gamelan playing style are to be found in four princely courts, two each in the neighboring cities of Jogyakarta and Surakarta. This recording, typifying the musical style of one of these courts, the Paku Alaman in Jogyakarta, is an eminently worthy representative of one of the major classical traditions of Eastern art music. Western enthusiasts have often compared the static yet constantly moving state of gamelan music to a river running in its course, or to "moonlight poured over the field".

Recorded in Bali by Robert E. Brown. Originally released in 1971.

Product Description

The greatest collection of instruments - mainly metallophones and bronze gongs of different shapes and sizes and the epitome of the playing style are to be found in four princely courts, two each in the neighboring cities of Jogyakarta and Surakarta. This recording is one of the major classical traditions of Eastern art music. Recorded in Bali by Robert E Brown. Originally released in 1971. Slipcase. Nonesuch. 2003.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Javanese gamelan is beautiful!, May 20, 2003

By 

Eric M. Allen (Milwaukie, OR, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Java: Court Gamelan (Audio CD)

I picked up this recording in 1984, and it's never been far from my ears. I joined the UCLA gamelan ensemble because of it.
At first, this music is hard to listen to, especially for ears accustomed to Western music-but keep listening to it. It grows on you, and grows, and grows.
The music is deep, timeless, complex and transcendent. Listening to it transports you to the highest realms of musical experience. You're also transported to the court where it was recorded-you can hear birds chirping in the rafters.
There's a reason this was included on the Voyager disc.
Some of it is slow, stately, majestic-other parts fast and abrupt (though not even close to the fiery exuberance of Balinese kebyar). Some of it sounds like rain, or thunder, or the ocean.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glorious, August 2, 2005

By 

footfootvrr "do the foot foot" (Bigtimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Java: Court Gamelan (Audio CD)

I love this album! It was maybe the first gamelan record I heard. I recommend it highly for those interested in Javanese Gamelan traditions. It is a good introduction containing long and short pieces, accelerating and decelerating tempos, group and solo vocals, and variety of atmosphere (although it's mostly a slower paced recording and very relaxing).

There are two short pieces, one with male and female choral vocals that are intoxicatingly beautiful, and one compact yet graceful instrumental. And there are two longer pieces, one reprising the male and female chorus...so delicious, and another amazingly dreamy one with solo female vocals that makes me feel like I am floating slowly and ecstatically on a heavenly river!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gamelan music, August 5, 2006

By 

Norman Jensen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Java: Court Gamelan (Audio CD)

This recording has a wonderful feeling of place and reality. One can almost sense the weather. Now and then the sound of birds can be heard. I felt that I was listening to music that was being played for a true spiritual practice and not "performance." I owned a vinyl recording of it for years and was pleased to find it in a CD format.