Java: Court Gamelan CD

Recorded in Java. Originally released as JAVANESE COURT GAMELAN on Nonesuch (72044). Includes liner notes by Robert E. Brown and Andrew Toth.

Javanese court gamelan is some of the most refined, beautiful, and strange music you're likely to find. Slow and stately, this music -- the examples here are from Jogyakarta -- offers both constant movement and the floating sense of standing still. Starting with a "Ketawang," the real meat is in the two long gendings, "Tedjånåtå" and "Mandulpati"; the former is a medley of three compositions to accompany a classical court dance, although it's played here more as a concert piece, given a slower, dreamy tempo. There's a continuous flow of sound, but the movements are subtle and discreet, presenting themselves slowly, like a flower opening. "Mandulpati" is in an older Solonese style. Refined and highly sensuous, it incorporates sung classical poetry. The final piece, "Hudan Mas," recorded in 1971, was played for a radio broadcast, with the gamelan (the word refers to the orchestra, not an instrument) playing softly, in a lulling manner, forming a perfect end to the record. ~ Chris Nickson

The greatest collection of instruments - mainly metallophones and bronze gongs of different shapes and sizes and the epitome of the playing style are to be found in four princely courts, two each in the neighboring cities of Jogyakarta and Surakarta. This recording is one of the major classical traditions of Eastern art music. Recorded in Bali by Robert E Brown. Originally released in 1971. Slipcase. Nonesuch. 2003.

This is part of Nonesuch's Explorer series.The Wire (4/03, p.50) - "...A classic, featuring the glorious sound of a Yogyakarta gamelan made in 1755..."