Search - Various Artists :: Gamelan of Central Java, Vol. 4: Spiritual Music

Another excellent volume

D. Quinn | northern britain | 08/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"We have five pieces, or `gendhing', on this fourth volume of the series, three with singing, cleverly interspersed by two instrumentals. The focus of this particular volume is on the spiritual nature of Javanese gamelan. Indeed, all traditional Javanese music has deep connections with religious experience - the nature of the music echoing the mental states needed for prayer, concentration and self-discipline. These five selections represent a particularly good focus on such expressions through music. Of course, some understanding of the wider social and religious setting is of great use in understanding the nature and purpose of the music. The excellent liner notes do an admirable job of explaining the cultural backdrop and origins of the pieces. The two instrumental pieces have their origins specifically in the annual week-long Islamic festival of Sekaten, which takes place during the third month of Mulud. It is said that the purpose of the pieces was originally to attract listeners into the mosque. These particular recordings were made in the studio environment and whilst the clarity of sound is unsurpassable, it is also worth listening to pieces in the festival environment itself (for this, try volume 2 - Ceremonial Music).

Western composers could learn a great deal from pretty much everything about traditional Indonesian music - the tuning, the structure, the instruments, the purpose, and so on. Looking at other cultural heritages can help us better understand our own, and in this age of global communications, more and more ideas are being transferred back and forth, to create whole new styles and fusions. It really is remarkable that such a unique sort of music has been preserved over the centuries, without having been noticeably diluted before the very first recording technology was invented. It is perhaps the spiritual and religious nature, which is entirely intertwined with the music, that has primarily helped preserve such a fascinating heritage.

I think that musically this is one of the finest in the series, and is thoroughly recommended to anyone with an interest in traditional Indonesian music, or indeed to those looking for something a little different, whether interested in the religious and spiritual context or simply the unique style of the music itself.

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