(idm) [Fwd: re: gamelan]

From esa ruoho
Sent Wed, Jul 28th 1999, 22:04


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: re: gamelan
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 10:27:06 -0700
From: eric hardiman <xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxxxxxxx.xxx>
To: esa ruoho <xxxxxxxx@xxx.xx>

(Hi - can you please forward my email to the IDM-list.  I seem to have
trouble posting without my messages getting  returned...  Thanks a
million...  eric)

Hi folks.  Just a bit of clarification here.  The word "gamelan" does
not
refer to a specific Balinese instrument.  The word itself is Indonesian
and
can mean two different things:  (1) gamelan = the Indonesian equivalent
of
our word "orchestra".  Essentially, it's a large group of instruments. 
The
instruments range from massive gongs, to hand drums, to various-sized
metallophones.  There are usually ten - twenty people involved in one
gamelan.  (2) gamelan = the style or type of music played by such a
group.

Gamelan music stems from both Java and Bali, with each style being quite
different... The music is amazingly intense and endlessly fascinating
(at
least to my ears).  The Balinese style is typically fast, intricate, and
loud, while the Javanese style is slower, more delicate/quiet, and
trance-inducing.  Of course, these are huge generalizations...  There
are
numerous separate styles within each type, usually based on the
different
villages and/or regions where the music is played.  Both styles use
similar
repeated patterns and phrases, and often include vocals (though I prefer
the instrumental pieces).

For a quick IDM reference point, the Squarepusher track "Gong Acid" on
"Budakhan Mindphone" is made up of all gamelan sounds.  I don't know if
it's actually played live, or assembled via samples/production, but the
piece is very nice and gives you an idea what the various gamelan sounds
are.  Being composed by Tom J. though, it doesn't really resemble
traditional balinese or javanese gamelan, it just uses the same
instruments/language.

There are several performing gamelans in the US (I play in a Javanese
one
here in Berkeley).  For those interested, you should by all means seek
them
out.  If you live in a major city, there's a good chance that a gamelan
group near you may need new members.  It's relatively easy to learn (it
requires no Western knowledge of music theory), and is great fun to
play.
Being right in the middle of the gongs and the metallophones while
they're
playing intricately repetitive and trance-y patterns for twenty minutes
on
end is a massive experience that you just can't get from listening as an
audience member.  

If you're interested, do a web search under gamelan - there's a site run
by
the American Gamelan Institute that lists contact names and phone #'s
for
all of the gamelan groups in the US and abroad.

I won't bother with recommendations of recorded gamelan music, since
that's
already been covered, and should be accessible via the archives...

sorry for the non-IDM intrusion!

eric hardiman
xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxxxxxxx.xxx