Chapter Five Sundanese Gamelan Salendro Sundanese West Java

Chapter Five: Sundanese Gamelan Salendro

Sundanese (West Java) • Second-largest ethnic group – Language and culture: Sundanese • 15 th Century: Pajajaran vanquished by C. Javanese Majapahit

Sundanese (West Java) (cont. ) • Aristocrats imitate Central Javanese court life • Villagers imitate aristocrats • Regional styles; center is Bandung

Sundanese Genres • Primary gamelan types – gamelan salendro • small version of Central Javanese gamelan • listening music, dance and theatre accompaniment – degung • Sundanese (formerly) aristocratic ensemble

Sundanese Genres (cont. ) • Others – tembang Sunda (sung poetry)

Sinyur (gamelan salendro) • sawilet (one wilet) vs. opat wilet (four wilet) – same pillar pitches – in opat wilet • more time between pillar pitches • vocalists sing in sorog

Sinyur (gamelan salendro) (cont. ) • dance vs kliningan – in sawilet section • drummer follows movements of dancing puppet • tempo varies according to puppet's movements – in opat wilet section • drummer is quiet, focus on vocalists • tempo is steady

Summary • Gamelan salendro accompanies: – Dance – Wayang • Kliningan (singing with gamelan accompanimen

Summary (cont. ) • Layers of • History • Instrumental functions (cycle / melody / elaboration / drumming) • Musical scales/modes – salendro plus sorog