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Map of Indonesia

 

Indonesia

The Republic of Indonesia is a nation in Southeast Asia consisting of over 1,700 islands spread across the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean between India, Australia and south of Singapore. As a former Dutch colony since 1800, Indonesia gained independence in 1945. Although Indonesia was well-known mostly for its spices (especially nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom), timber, copper, tin, coal and wildlife, other aspects of its culture were little known by the outside world. It was not until the end of the 19th century, during the Exposition Universelle of 1889 held in Paris, that Indonesian culture was presented to the world for the first time in a major way.

 

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The Exposition Universelle of 1889, Paris: a bird’s eye view

 

The Exposition Universelle of 1889
Among the many exhibits of artifacts showed at the Exposition Universelle, music and dance from Java were performed in a replicated village or “kampong”. Among the many curious viewers was the young French composer Claude Debussy, who was mesmerized by the ethereal and flashing timbres of gamelan while being enchanted by the lively and amazing dancers. Inspired by the sounds of gamelan, Debussy subsequently composed his famous piano composition Pagodes in 1903.

 

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The Exposition Universelle of 1889, Paris: entrance to Javanese village

 

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Javanese dancers performing with gamelan accompaniment at the Exposition Universelle of 1889, Paris

 

[Video 1]

Pagodes (excerpt)

Pagodes is the first of the three pieces of the piano suite Estampes composed by French composer Debussy. It was inspired by the Javanese gamelan and pagoda, a traditional architecture commonly found throughout Asia. Pagodes deliberately imitates the style and sonic features of Asian music by the use of open-fifth, pentatonic scale and non-triadic harmony. The musical atmosphere is solemn and elegant, recalling the sound of bells, chimes and gongs heard in pagodas, temples and palaces.

 

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Map of Java

 

The Cradle of Metalsmiths

Java is an island that lies in the center of the Indonesia archipelago chain. There are three major cultural groups on the island:

1.　Javanese (in Central Java);

2.　Madurese (in East Java);

3.　Sudanese (in West Java).

 

Javanese is the largest group and historically well-known for its metalwork artisans who are skilled in producing bronze wares. This explains why most of the Javanese musical instruments are made of bronze.

 

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A display of Javanese musical instruments at Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore

 

The Culture

Javanese culture flourished during the pre-colonial period because some kingdoms (Sultanates) became close allies of the Dutch colonial empire. Due to the historical connection with multiple cultures within the region, Javanese traditions are a mix of Buddhism, Hinduism and Islamic values preserved and passed down through the courts. Today, two former courts, Yogyakarta (Yogya) and Surakarta (Solo), are considered major centers of Javanese arts and culture. In particular, gamelan music and dance are considered elevated, refined art of the aristocrats as opposed to the rougher village performance style beyond the confines of the courts. The key concept alus - defined as subtle, refined, civilized - is often hailed as the aesthetic ideal of Javanese culture as opposed to the less refined character of village culture.

 

[Video 2]

Javanese Gamelan Performance

This excerpt begins with a short introduction on bonang which is then joined in by metal slabbed instruments that play the skeleton melody. The melody is punctuated by deep sounding hanging gongs. The drum sets the tempo and the mood of music.

 

[Video 3]

Learning Gamelan Playing

Young people are learning to play the gamelan under the guidance of an old master.

 

Ketawang

Also 16 beats per gongan, but divided into two 8-beat kenongan.

 

Ladrang

32 beats per gongan, divided into four 8-beat kenongan.

 

[Video 4]

Udan Mas

Udan Mas literally means “Golden Rain”. This is a famous gamelan piece, often played at the end of gamelan concerts when the audience is leaving. The music exemplifies the characteristics of Javanese gamelan music: it starts with a simple introduction buka, the skeleton melody begins and is repeated multiple times (as is shown in the notation in the video). The skeleton melody is elaborated by another group of instruments which constantly add melodic embellishments, texture and liveness to the music. The whole piece finally ends at a slower tempo before the final gong stroke.

 

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Pelog (rear left) and slendro (middle) instruments are placed in L shape at different sides of the performer

 

There are two styles of playing the gamelan:

• Loud style: Played only with the bronze instruments;
• Soft style: Besides the bronze instruments, the music is performed with voice, strings and wooden bars.

 

[Video 5]

Tuning of Pelog and Slendro

Pelog and slendro are the two major tuning systems in Javanese gamelan music. In this video, you may listen to the notes of the pelog tuning system, followed by the notes of the slendro tuning system. The Indonesian name of the notes are also given. Intervals between notes in these two systems are different from those found in the 12-equal tempered scale of Western music.

 

[Video 8]

Javanese

This modern piece combines elements of Javanese gamelan music and electronic dance music. Relying on techniques from animation and puppets from wayang kulit, the video recounts legends of two Javanese kingdoms. To give Javanese traditional arts a new look and a modern feel by highlighting the role of traditional arts in modern production, the producer hopes that everyone would treasure traditional art forms and culture.