Search - Mlayawidada :: Gendhing Bonang - Court Music of Kraton Surakarta III

Interesting if you listen carefully

Julian Guffogg | St Leonards, East Sussex England | 02/25/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This CD consists of two "loud style" pieces, in which only the bronze instruments (and drum) are used. The two Gendhing are Bremara and Imawinenda in pelog and slendro scales respectively. These long pieces start quietly, with the bonang, which is described as "starlight raindrops", although I think thats a bit overstated, as the predominant instrument heard is the high-pitched peking. At first, the pieces appear slow moving and monotonous, but it is important to pay attention, this music needs working at! There is a driving element throughout, and the music gets quite hypnotic, with its precise cycles of notes, and the various marker instruments punctuating it in precise places. As it is in Pelog scale, there is an interesting chromatic coloration to the melody, which can throw up some unexpected tones. The pace builds up to a full-powered, almost manic point, with the full power of bronze thundering, before the brakes are put on to slow to the gong at the end. The second piece is similar, but with a much longer gong cycle - its like writing on elastic and stretching it out. The slendro nem sounds more rounded, and the bonang playing is good too. Interestingly, the piece ends on an unexpectedly optimistic note (literally).The music is played on the blue and red colored "Kaduk manis" and "Manisrenggo" gamelans of the Kraton Surakarta, which are featured on other World music recordings."