Chapter Four (Part I): Gamelan in Central Java

Layers of Influences on Java Indigenous animistic beliefs Hinduism Buddhism Islam (16th century)

Layers of Influences on Java (cont.) Various Indonesian kingdoms/empires Portuguese, Dutch, British colonial rule Independence in 1945

Javanese Tuning Systems Slendro 5 pitches (pentatonic) Equidistant intervals (all “medium-sized”) Pelog 7 pitches (heptatonic) Non-equidistant intervals (“big” and “small”) 5-pitch subsets

Loud Style vs. Soft Style Bronze instruments in foreground Elaboration by bronze instruments Soft style Non-bronze instruments in foreground Singing

Musical Layers in ladrang "Pangkur“ Underlying cycle (“colotomic”) Main melody (balungan) Elaboration (panerusan) Rhythmic control / drumming

Summary Layers of ideas, philosophies, and approaches Musical layers in gamelan music colotomic (time marking) tempo leader (drummer) main melody (balungan) elaboration

Summary (cont.) Two tuning systems Two different “styles” Slendro Pelog Two different “styles” “loud” style “soft” style