laras pelog, pathet lima
Gendhing Denggung Turulare is categorized as a gendhing bonang, a piece specifically composed to feature the bonang (medium-sized horizontal gongs). It consists of 64 beats per gong cycle on saron, which is a medium-sized metallophone with six to nine keys. There are many bonang pieces entitled Denggung, such as Denggung Asmarandana, Denggung Gong, Denggung Medharsih, Denggung Raras, Denggung Ngesthiraras, Denggung Sulur, and Kangkung, Denggung. Denggung Turulare is the most popular among these Denggung pieces. It is only played in the seven-tone pelog tuning system. Gendhing bonang are usually loud and played as an overture for a regular gamelan performance.
laras pelog, pathet lima
The title of this piece can be translated as "The Aura of the King." Gendhing Candranata is categorized as a gendhing rebab because if features the rebab, which is a two-stringed fiddle. This piece consists of 64 beats per gong cycle. Like gendhing Denggung Turulare, Candranata is played on the seven-tone pelog instruments.
The Bhayangkari dance was composed in 1970 by Bagong Kussudiardjo, a famous choreographer from Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia. The title of the piece refers to a female warrior. The dance is a depiction of the warrior's bravery and skill with the bow and arrow. The music is a combination of central Javanese style gamelan with Sudanese (west Javanese) style drumming.
laras slendro, pathet sanga
Strictly speaking, this type of composition is for listening pleasure. However, a dhalang (puppeteer/narrator) may ask the musicians to play it to allow himself some time to rest. The music is restful. Because Gambirsawit is often played after midnight, many members of the audience might take a short nap on site during this time or help themselves to a strong cup of Java. Ladrang Gonjang-Ganjing was composed in the 16th century by Sunan Kalijaga, who is one of the nine Islamic saints in Java. We play this piece today in the five-tone slendro tuning system, but it is sometimes played on the pelog instruments.
laras pelog, pathet barang
A ladrang is a smaller piece than a gendhing, consisting of 32 beats per gong cycle on saron. This piece was originally composed for the pelog scale, but sometimes it is played on slendro instruments.
laras pelog, pathet barang
Pangkur Ngujiwat is categorized as a ketawang, a structure that is smaller than a ladrang. It consists of 16 beats per gong cycle as played on a saron. The lyrics are based upon a Javanese poetic meter called Pangkur. The title is actually Ketawang Ngujiwat. Because the lyrics use the poetic meter Pangkur, the piece became Pangkur Ngujiwat. The word ngujiwat means womanly, and this piece is categorized as a love song. The lyrics tell of someone who is falling in love.
Yapong also was composed by Bagong Kussudiardjo in 1970. Yapong is based on Betawi (Jakartanese) traditional style female dance. The music is very lively. It is a combination of a new Javanese melodic gamelan style with a rock beat.
laras slendro, pathet nem
The title of this piece can be translated as "Ready to Rumble." This piece is categorized as a gendhing and is similar in style to the gendhing bonang Denggung, which began today's program.