Customer Reviews

Javanese Court Gamelan

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As an ethnomusicologist, longtime performer of this music, and producer of "Shadow Music of Java" CD, I have long admired Robert Brown's recording and its companion release, "Court Music of Java II": superb performances of the court musicians, authentic acoustic ambience of the court pendopo (outdoor pavilion), and--most rare--a good recording of this genre, a fiendishly difficult music to record.

This excellently spiritual CD is played on Gamelans Pengawis Sari (slendro)/Tlaga Muncar(Pelog) of Puro Pakualaman in Jogyakarta Gending Mandulpati, slendro nem, is one of the best examples of refined Gamelan around. The instrumentation is so sparse its wonderful. It segues into Ladrang Agun agun with a subtle drum pattern and gong. The climax at the end is an outpouring of the building tension. It posesses the finest qualities this genre of music has to offer. The pesindhen's voice is especially good. To me, the bird twittering present only enhances it more - they are clearly enjoying the performance! The Puspawarna is a good example too, very melodious, but I'm not so keen on Tejanata, but thats my personal choice. Who cares if its a 1971 recording - this music is timeless.

The music is excellent but the sound quality is poor. You have to turn it up really loud to hear it. The last two tracks, of the four, are the best. The bells are beautifully resonous and full sounding, despite the background fuzz.

Passionate, sensual, timeless, grateful, happy, brilliant, filling the dome of the night with voice of the human heart. I hear the people I have loved and love: my mother, my lover, and myself in an evening in the the summer at the edges of eternity.