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Two previously unpublished Indonesian composershave scores here.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
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