18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"The only good recording of Central Javanese gamelan.", July 25, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: Shadow Music of Java (Audio CD)
Gamelan music is notoriously difficult to record because of its extraordinary dynamic and tonal range, and the delicate blending of timbres. Nearly all gamelan recordings currently on the market fall short of ideal.
An Indonesian music specialist recently called Shadow Music of Java, "The only good recording" of Central Javanese gamelan. I would add that Robert Brown's two Nonesuch LPs (also on CD, I think), "Court Music of Java," are equally good.
The ethnomusicologist producer (me) has performed Central Javanese gamelan music for decades, and the audio engineer (Paul Blakemore) was one of the leading recordists for NPR for many years. We spent three days getting the microphone placements exactly right, and used about $10,000 worth of audio equipment. Paul says it was the most difficult challenge of his career. Paul and I are proud of the result and pleased that the musical leader of the group, Pak Widiyanto, enthusiastically approved what he heard on tape.
I wrote the extensive notes in consultation with Widiyanto and other Javanese musicians and American ethnomusicologists.
The music is excerpts from *wayang*, the all-night shadow puppet drama, one of the great literary/dramatic/musical genres of the world. Half of the selections represent a pre- and post-wayang *klenengan*, or instrumental concert. The other half are self-contained instrumental, or vocal-instrumental pieces from a live wayang performance. The Wono Giri ensemble, led by *dalang* (puppeteer) Widiyanto, performed at the Sackler Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution, where they were in residence for a couple of months. They perform on gamelan instruments on loan from Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut.
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