Music of Java: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Javanese traditional music, Indonesia}}

{{Indonesianmusic}}

{{More citations needed|date=April 2024}}

The '''Music of Java''' embraces a wide variety of styles, both traditional and contemporary, reflecting the diversity of the island and its lengthy [[history of Java|history]]. Apart from "traditional" forms which maintain connections to musical styles many centuries old, there are also many unique styles and conventions which combine elements from many other regional influences, including those of neighbouring Asian cultures and European colonial forms.

[[File:Javanese Gamelan.jpg|thumb|right|300px| Javanese gamelan ensemble performance during traditional Javanese [[Yogyakarta]] style wedding ceremony at Sasono Utomo, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Jakarta, Indonesia.]]

{{Music of Indonesia}}

The '''Music of Java''' embraces a wide variety of styles, both traditional and contemporary, reflecting the diversity of the island and its lengthy [[historyJava of Java(island)#History|history]]. Apart from "traditional" forms whichthat maintain connections to musical styles many centuries old, there are also many unique styles and conventions which combine elements from many other regional influences, including those of neighbouring Asian cultures and European colonial forms.

==Gamelan==

{{Main|Gamelan}}

The [[gamelan]] orchestra, based on metallic [[idiophone|idiophones]]s and [[drum]]s, is perhaps the form which is most readily identified as being distinctly "Javanese" by outsiders. In various forms, it is ubiquitous to Southeast [[Asia]]. In Java, the full [[gamelan]] also adds a [[bowed string instrument]] (the [[rebab]], a name illustrative of [[Islamic]] influence), plucked [[siter]], vertical flute [[suling]] and voices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mardiastuti |first=Aditya |title=Alat Musik Rebab: Pengertian, Sejarah Asal, dan Cara Memainkan |url=https://www.detik.com/jabar/berita/d-6243216/alat-musik-rebab-pengertian-sejarah-asal-dan-cara-memainkan |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=detikjabar |language=id-ID}}</ref> The rebab is one of the main melodic instruments of the ensemble, together with the metallophone [[gendér]]; these and the [[kendang]] drums are often played by the most experienced musicians. Voices usually consist of a male chorus [[gerong]], together with a female soloist [[sindhen|pesindhen]]; however, the voices are not usually featured in court gamelan (as opposed to [[wayang kulit]], [[shadow puppet]] theatre) and are supposed to be heard discreetly in the middle of the orchestral sound. In these [[Abstract music|abstract]] pieces, the words are largely secondary to the music itself.

There are two tuning systems in Javanese gamelan music, [[slendro]] ([[pentatonic]]) and [[pelog]] ([[heptatonic]] in full, but focussing on a pentatonic group). Tuning is not standard, rather each gamelan set will have a distinctive tuning. There are also distinct melodic modes ([[pathet]]) associated with each tuning system. A complete gamelan consists of two of sets of instrument, one in each tuning system. Different gamelan sets have different sonorities, and are used for different pieces of music; many are very old, and used for only one specific piece. Musical forms are defined by the [[rhythm]]ic cycles. These consist of major cycles punctuated by the large [[gong]], subdivided by smaller divisions marked by the striking of smaller [[gong]]s such as [[kenong]], [[kempul]] and [[kempyang and ketuk|kethuk]]. The melodic interplay takes place within this framework (technically called "[[colotomic structure]]").

There are two tuning systems in Javanese gamelan music, [[slendro]] ([[pentatonic]]) and [[pelog]] ([[heptatonic]] in full, but focussingfocusing on a pentatonic group).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Media |first=Kompas Cyber |date=2022-01-21 |title=Mengenal Laras Slendro dan Pelog: Arti, Perbedaan, dan Nada |url=https://regional.kompas.com/read/2022/01/21/112810678/mengenal-laras-slendro-dan-pelog-arti-perbedaan-dan-nada |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=KOMPAS.com |language=id}}</ref> Tuning is not standard, rather each gamelan set will have a distinctive tuning. There are also distinct melodic modes ([[pathet]]) associated with each tuning system. A complete gamelan consists of two of sets of instrument, one in each tuning system. Different gamelan sets have different sonorities, and are used for different pieces of music; many are very old, and used for only one specific piece. Musical forms are defined by the [[rhythm]]ic cycles. These consist of major cycles punctuated by the large [[gong]], subdivided by smaller divisions marked by the striking of smaller [[gong]]s such as [[kenong]], [[kempul]] and [[kempyang and ketuk|kethuk]]. The melodic interplay takes place within this framework (technically called "[[colotomic structure]]").

==Contemporary forms==

Popular music forms that infuse Western elements and appeal to younger, mass audiences gained popularity in the 1970s and the 1980s. Examples of proponents of this type of music are [[Gugum Gumbira]] and Idjah Hadidjah.

==See also==

{{Unreferenced|date=July 2008}}

{{Portal|Music|Indonesia}}

* [[Music of Indonesia]]

* [[Sundanese music]]

* [[Music of Bali]]

* [[Music of Sumatra]]

== References ==

[[Category:Indonesian regional styles of music|Java]]

{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Music of Indonesia|Java]]

[[Category:Javanese culture]]