CONTENTS TRADITIONS Gatra: A Basic Concept of Traditional Javanese Gending by Rahayu Supanggah Wayang Wong Priangan: Dance Drama of West Java by Yus Ruslaiana translated, edited, and augmented by Kathy Foley INTERVIEWS Divining the Diva: an interview with Nyi Tjondroloekito by Nancy Cooper Sinta Wullur and the Diatonic Gamelan by Huib Ramaer Komang Astita: the performance of sound by Elaine Barkin INSTRUMENTATION Gambang Cengkok in Slendro Manyura compiled by Carter Scholz SCORES Tetabeuhan Sungut (Onomatopoeia) by Slamet Abdul Sjukur a little piece for pianoforte by Michael Asmara Rag for Deena by Barbara Benary Gending Moon by Lou Harrison notes by Jody Diamond Waton by Komang Astita by Elaine Barkin Trimbat by Ida Bagus Made Widnyana by Andrew McGraw RECORDING Homage to Tradition CD notes by Rahayu Supanggah MONOGRAPH (print issue only) The Mills College Gamelan documented by Will Ditrich designed by Lou Harrison and William Colvig EDITORIAL Words from the past, music from the present, and hopes for the future are all presented in this edition of Balungan. Through the years, many people have submitted articles and interviews that never appeared in print. We take this opportunity to bring some those contributions to light: Elaine Barkin’s 1990 interview and report on Komang Astita's residency at UCLA in 1995, and an extensive compendium of gambang cengkok compiled by Carter Scholz in the early 90s. As happens with the passage of time, the gamelan community has lost many good friends and teachers in recent years. Nancy Cooper gives us an interview of one of the most popular and at the same time unique Javanese pesindhen, Nyi Tjondroloekito (192?–1997). Rag for Deena, by Barbara Benary, was dedicated to Deena Burton (1948–2005), an artist and scholar active in Indonesian arts in New York City. New music in Indonesia lost a great champion in Harry Roesli, a dedicated composer and activist based in Bandung but well known throughout the nation. Many will miss the American composer and gamelan enthusiast Lou Harrison (1917–2003). This issue includes a previously unpublished score, and the documentation of the gamelan Harrison and partner William Colvig (1917–2000) built at Mills College in California. Two previously unpublished Indonesian composers have scores here. The composition by Slamet Sjukur is entirely vocal; a sort of “mouth-gamelan.” Michael Asmara’s piece for piano is also quite theatrical. The most recent information is in Andrew McGraw’s discussion and transcriptions of Trimbat by Ida Bagus Made Widnyana, drawn from Andy’s just- completed dissertation on new music in Bali. Also new to many readers will be the English version of Rahayu Supanggah’s important theoretical article on the Javanese musical concept gatra, as well as the complete notes for his self-produced CD Homage to Tradition. Looking to the future, this issue marks the debut of the electronic version of Balungan. Articles appear at www.gamelan.org/balungan, with some additions. I appreciate the support shown by several libraries to continue a print edition; an exclusive monograph will be included in each annual issue. OTOH, www.gamelan.org serves an ever-growing cyber- community of gamelan players, scholars, and others involved in Indonesian arts and their international counterparts. jody diamond hanover, nh 7/7/2005 1 13 27 30 34 38 59 71 72 74 80 83 92 95

EDITORIAL CONTENTSgamelan.org/balungan/back_issues/balungan(9-10)/0...Wayang Wong Priangan: Dance Drama of West Java by Yus Ruslaiana translated, edited, and augmented by Kathy Foley

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CONTENTS

TRADITIONSGatra: A Basic Concept of Traditional Javanese Gendingby Rahayu Supanggah

Wayang Wong Priangan: Dance Drama of West Javaby Yus Ruslaianatranslated, edited, and augmented by Kathy Foley

INTERVIEWSDivining the Diva: an interview with Nyi Tjondroloekitoby Nancy Cooper

Sinta Wullur and the Diatonic Gamelanby Huib Ramaer

Komang Astita: the performance of soundby Elaine Barkin

INSTRUMENTATIONGambang Cengkok in Slendro Manyuracompiled by Carter Scholz

SCORESTetabeuhan Sungut (Onomatopoeia)by Slamet Abdul Sjukur

a little piece for pianoforteby Michael Asmara

Rag for Deenaby Barbara Benary

Gending Moonby Lou Harrisonnotes by Jody Diamond

Waton by Komang Astitaby Elaine Barkin

Trimbat by Ida Bagus Made Widnyanaby Andrew McGraw

RECORDINGHomage to Tradition CD notesby Rahayu Supanggah

MONOGRAPH (print issue only)The Mills College Gamelan documented by Will Ditrichdesigned by Lou Harrison and William Colvig

EDITORIAL

Words from the past, music from the present, andhopes for the future are all presented in this edition ofBalungan. Through the years, many people havesubmitted articles and interviews that never appearedin print. We take this opportunity to bring some thosecontributions to light: Elaine Barkin’s 1990 interviewand report on Komang Astita's residency at UCLA in1995, and an extensive compendium of gambangcengkok compiled by Carter Scholz in the early 90s.

As happens with the passage of time, the gamelancommunity has lost many good friends and teachers inrecent years. Nancy Cooper gives us an interview ofone of the most popular and at the same time uniqueJavanese pesindhen, Nyi Tjondroloekito (192?–1997).Rag for Deena, by Barbara Benary, was dedicated toDeena Burton (1948–2005), an artist and scholar activein Indonesian arts in New York City. New music inIndonesia lost a great champion in Harry Roesli, adedicated composer and activist based in Bandung butwell known throughout the nation. Many will miss theAmerican composer and gamelan enthusiast LouHarrison (1917–2003). This issue includes a previouslyunpublished score, and the documentation of thegamelan Harrison and partner William Colvig(1917–2000) built at Mills College in California.

Two previously unpublished Indonesian composershave scores here. The composition by Slamet Sjukur isentirely vocal; a sort of “mouth-gamelan.” MichaelAsmara’s piece for piano is also quite theatrical.

The most recent information is in AndrewMcGraw’s discussion and transcriptions of Trimbat byIda Bagus Made Widnyana, drawn from Andy’s just-completed dissertation on new music in Bali. Also newto many readers will be the English version of RahayuSupanggah’s important theoretical article on theJavanese musical concept gatra, as well as the completenotes for his self-produced CD Homage to Tradition.

Looking to the future, this issue marks the debut ofthe electronic version of Balungan. Articles appear atwww.gamelan.org/balungan, with some additions.

I appreciate the support shown by several librariesto continue a print edition; an exclusive monographwill be included in each annual issue. OTOH,www.gamelan.org serves an ever-growing cyber-community of gamelan players, scholars, and othersinvolved in Indonesian arts and their internationalcounterparts.

jody diamondhanover, nh

7/7/2005

1

13

27

30

34

38

59

71

72

74

80

83

92

95
Deena Burton1948 – 2005

1951 – 2005
Lou Harrison William Colvig1917 – 2003 1917 – 2000