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Rebab & Female Singing of Central Javanese Gamelan
Rebab & Female Singing of Central Javanese Gamelan, Various
Rebab & Female Singing of Central Javanese Gamelan
Genres: International Music, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (3) - Disc #1


     

CD Details

All Artists: Rebab & Female Singing of Central Javanese Gamelan, Various
Title: Rebab & Female Singing of Central Javanese Gamelan
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: World Music Library
Release Date: 8/20/1996
Genres: International Music, Pop
Style: Far East & Asia
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 4988003182533, 741952521129
 

CD Reviews

Chamber Gamelan
Julian Guffogg | St Leonards, East Sussex England | 03/17/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a studio recording of a kind of "chamber gamelan" of only 6 players, called Gadhon. As with other King record gamelan recordings it is very clear, and I almost miss the ambient sounds of the Kraton in the background, as in other recordings. The main instrument throughout is the rebab (2 stringed violin), which is played confidently on all tracks by Saptono. There are three tracks, the second one includes the female singer Tukinem. The first track, Semburadas, and Tombohoneng (a magical medicine to cure sadness) has a calm, melancholy feeling, and is the interesting pelog scale. It is hard to tell where the two pieces merge together, and it is interesting to hear the main melody played on the Slenthem. The 20 mins long tracks demand some staying power, but listen out for things like the Rebab "hanging" on one note - almost wondering where to go next, and the open string chords and glissandi. Although the music is soft and beautiful, there is a subtle aggression in the way the bow sometimes attacks the strings - great! The second track, Lalermengeng means "calmly losing conciousness in a flash..." according to the Japanese translation, but sounds typically esoterically Javanese to me! The sindhen joins in on this track - I bet you have no idea how old she is - you just can't tell by her voice. No doubt the text she sings is some obscure parable, perhaps some kind person will traslate all these Javanese words one day, but it matters not, as the voice is just seen as another instrument. At times rebab and voice intertwine so intimately that it sounds like two singers in a duet - amazing, such is the rapport between performers. Technically, the singer and rebab explore many extra tones away from the standard slendro scale in this barang miring piece,as they have the freedom of pitch. The suling plays the standard patterns you often hear in Gamelan music, but I never tire of them, especially as it comes from a simple bamboo instrument. You can easily fall asleep listening to this; I recommend you do, and your dreams will be filled with peaceful images."