SOLO MUSIC

Keys to emotions

 

 

MACAPAT

by Rosella Balossino

 

Poetry and music in Java are strictly connected. Poems, in fact, are not recited but sung with melodies appropriate to the metre of the verse. These vocal compositions, called tembang in 'ngoko Javanese' and sekar in 'krama Javanese', are divided in three main groups according to their metrical scheme.

 

At the beginning of the 18th century, during the “Javanese Renaissance”, in Surakarta some court musicians started polishing and refining the macapat songs and fixed the prosody of about fifteen of them, calling them tembang cilik, “small songs”, to distinguish them from the Indian verses of the old Javanese court poems which were called tembang gedhé, “great songs”.

This kind of literature had a second blooming at the end of the 19th century, during the “Second Javanese Renaissance” when many poets, such as Ranggawarsita “the last pujangga” and princes such as  Mangku  Nagara IV, wrote poetic stanzas in macapat metres.

 

According to Sri Hastanto, until the end of the 19th century macapat were used for didactic, religious, mystic purposes and also for writing letters that were sung to the recipient without musical accompaniment.

“It was commonly believed – and frequently still is – that Friday is the day of evil spirits. According to traditional ideas, the spirits start their activities very early. Thus it was necessary to remain awake all night on Thursday in order to avoid being attacked by them. To ward off sleepiness, people  sometimes sat together and sang tembang macapat in turns until dawn. The  texts  which were used were usually prayers to ask God’s blessing. Macapat were sung in much the same way at other religious ceremonies concerning marriage and birth.” (Sri Hastanto, p. 112-127.)

 

The singers, not being accompanied by any instrument, could add ornamentations and even introduce changes in tempo according to their taste, giving different renditions of the same tembang macapat in a way that sometimes made the original melodic line difficult to recognize. Jaap Kunst reports another particular use of tembang macapat:

“A peculiar and rare form of macapat singing should be mentioned here: this is called tembang pendhapa or tembang pringgitan. Every evening in the Solonese kraton, an official, belonging to the prajurit corps of the Tamtama, places himself at the foot of, and with his back to, the large central pendhapa, turns his face in the direction of the large door behind which in olden times, the Susuhunans were wont to sleep, and proceeds to sing, all night long, various macapat songs. The style of rendering this performance, however, is such that only a perfectly trained ear is able to discern that it is indeed macapat melodies that are being sung, the execution being extremely surcharged with variations and fiorituri prescribed by tradition”.

(J. Kunst, p.126.)

 

 

Each form of macapat  metre has a title and is defined by the number of lines per stanza, the number of syllables for each line and the vowel of the last syllable. The number of the macapat forms is not defined but depending on the authors goes from 10  (Gitosaprodjo)  to 20 (T. Pigeaud).

Nowadays the musicians consider 11 forms:

Mijil                                         6 lines     10i, 6o, 10é, 10i, 6i, 6u

Maskumambang                     4 lines     12i, 6a, 8i, 8a

Kinanthi                                  6 lines     8u, 8i, 8a, 8i, 8a, 8i

Sinom                                      9 lines     8a, 8i ,8a, 8i, 7i, 8u, 7a, 8i, 12a

Durma                                     7 lines     12a, 7i, 6a, 7a, 8i, 5a, 7i

Asmaradana                            7 lines     8i, 8a, 8é(o), 8a, 7a, 8u, 8a

Gambuh                                  5 lines     7u, 10u, 12i, 8u, 8o

Dhandhanggula                    10 lines    10i, 10a, 8é (o), 7u, 9i, 7a, 6u, 8a, 12i, 7a

Pangkur                                 7 lines     8a,11i, 8u, 7a, 12u, 8a, 8i

Megatruh (Duduk Wuluh)      5 lines     12u, 8i, 8u, 8i, 8o

 

The origin of the titles of the macapat is mainly unknown, but supposedly these names are preceding the formalization of the written forms. Some of them have a meaning, but have no connection with the subject of any given macapat. The only one that recalls its subject is Asmaradana, where asmara means “passionate love”.

 

Pigeaud suggests that some names were connected with ceremonies of the pre-Islamic period or with people in charge of those ceremonies or with some poet or poem. Dhandhanggula is synonym of Dhandhan Gendhis, 13th century king of Kedhiri, who ruled over Java as Sri Gentayu, after fighting his rebellious brother Sandhang Garba. Asmaradana or Asmara Dana recalls the kakawin Smara Dahana  in which Siwa, angry at Kama Jaya, the god of sensual love, who keeps intruding in his ascetic life, burns him with a glance of his third eye. Pangkur might be connected with the “officials of certain exorcist rites in Java whose incantations became secularised in the course of time” (Pigeaud). Maskumambang may recall the shamanic experience of floating. Gambuh means experienced or expert, and is connected with dances of ancient communal festivals in Java. Sinom (nom means “young”) may be connected with sinoman, a hosting activity carried out by groups of boys during community meals (wilujengan).

 

Each macapat metre has its own melody, which is considered to convey a particular mood. The subject of the stanza has to be in accordance with that mood. Each melody, which in its plain version is called wantah (simple), may be modified in various ways. Such modifications, indicated in the title with an appropriate word, may also modify the mood of the melody but without completely changing it. So it is possible to listen to Pangkur (Wantah) and also to Pangkur Ngrenas, Pangkur Paripurna, etc., depending on the elaboration of the melody. In the anthology “Macapat I, II, III” by Gunawan Sri Hastjarjo, we can find three wantah versions of Dhandhanggula – slendro sanga, pelog nem, pelog barang – and 26 other versions such as Dhandhanggula Buminatan, Dhandhanggula Natakusuman, Dhandhanggula  Sukasih, and so on.

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

  • Gitosaprodjo S. - Sekar translated by Judith Becker in Karawitan - Source Readings in Javanese Gamelan and Vocal Music Vol. 2 - 1987 - Michigan Papers on South and Southeast Asia.
  • Sri Hastanto - Tembang macapat in Central Java -1983 - Journal of the Royal Musical Association Vol 110  pp. 118-127.
  • Sri Hastjarjo - Macapat I, II, III.
  • Kunst J. -  Music in Java Vol. I  - 1973 - Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague.
  • Pigeaud T. - Literature of Java Vol. I, Vol. III - 1967 - Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague.

 

 

 

 

 

TEMBANG MACAPAT

by Darsono, S. Kar., M. Hum.

 

 

The word tembang literally means flower but can be explained as a series of words or sentences which are arranged in such a way as to resemble an arrangement of colourful flowers, which look so beautiful and smell so fragrant that they attract the attention of anyone who sees them. This series of sentences is sung by a vocalist who uses the sléndro or pélog scale of the Javanese gamelan.

 

The singing style depends largely on the text. When the text comes from ancient Javanese sources dating 1000-1500 AD in the ancient Javanese language (kakawin), the singing style is ornamented (tembang gedhé). When the literary text dates from the middle period between1500 and 1800 AD and the language is in a transition phase, the singing style is called tembang tengahan. The texts in modern Javanese from around the year 1800 are sung with little ornamentation and are called tembang macapat or just macapat.

 

The appearance of tembang macapat was influenced by the oral tradition in which information was passed on by word of mouth, largely due to the fact that only a few people could read and write. Therefore, in order to convey words of religious or moral advice, or information about history, education, and so on, books were written in the form of tembang macapat, and performed on a variety of different occasions in the Javanese community. These books include Srikandhi Meguru Manah, Dewa Ruci, Centhini, Wulangreh, and Wedatama. Tembang macapat also spread to West Java and Bali, while in Central Java several different styles developed, including Surakarta style, Semarang style, and Banyumas style.

 

Based on the “Purwakanthi” chronicle by M. Ng. Mangunwijaya (1922), the “Titi Asri” chronicle by Supardal Hardosukarto (1925), and the “Pathokaning nyekar” chronicle by R. Harjowirogo (1925), it is stated that tembang macapat was first invented by religious leaders for the purpose of spreading the Islamic religion. For example, Tembang Durma was written by Sunan Bonang, Pocung by Sunan Muryapada, Mijil by Sunan Geseng, Kinanthi by Sunan Pajang, Dhandhanggula by Sunan Kalijogo, and so on.

 

Each of the eleven tembang macapat, that are widely known and also contained in the “Menak Rare” chronicle, has its own structural differences, including the number of syllables (guru wilajang) on each line, the vowels (guru lagu) used at the end of each line, and the number of gatra or lines in each tembang.

 

Some tembang macapat have a completely different character from each other while others are quite similar. The following is a list of the characters which are usually said to be found in each tembang macapat:

Dhandhanggula has an attractive, sympathetic, and very proper character, for which reason it is suitable for describing a variety of different feelings.

Sinom has a shrewd, romantic character and as such it is suitable for describing or portraying a person in love.

Kinanthi has a bright, happy, romantic character.

Asmaradana has a sad, anxious character.

Pangkur has a calm, powerful character.

Mijil has a sad, romantic character.

Pocung has a light-hearted character.

Durma has an angry, stern character.

Maskumambang has a sad, troubled character.

Megatruh/Duduk Wuluh has a sad, piteous character.

Gambuh has a familiar, tolerant character.

 

In the Javanese culture, each of these eleven tembang macapat exist in both sléndro and pélog tuning. The terms sléndro and pélog here imply the various opposites that exist in the universe, such as night and day, man and woman, happy and sad, dead and alive, and so on. Javanese people like to make connections between different events, thus the names of these tembang macapat are also related to different phases of the human life cycle, from birth to death. The order and a brief description of these human life events is as follows:

 

Mijil. The word mijil in Javanese means to come out or be born. After carrying a baby in the womb for 9 months and 10 days, a woman finally gives birth to a child. The birth of a baby is symbolized by tembang Mijil.

 

Maskumambang. A newborn baby is like a piece of clean, white paper, untainted by sin, and is also as valuable as gold. A baby is also said to be like an object floating (kumambang) on the surface of water which is blown in all directions by the wind. Therefore, it is important to bring up a child carefully to ensure that s/he will be valuable and useful for the rest of society. The existence of a baby aged around 10 months is symbolized by tembang Maskumambang.

 

Kinanthi. This word means accompanied by or led by the hand. When a child of around one year starts to learn to walk, the parents will hold the child’s hands carefully to make sure s/he does not fall. A child of this age is symbolized by tembang Kinanthi.

 

Sinom. When children grow-up they tend to be strong-willed and will go to all means to get what they want without taking into account right and wrong. This stage of life is symbolized by tembang Sinom.

 

Durma. Teenagers usually have no fear of anyone or anything, and are always filled with courage and conviction. This is like the character of a brave lion that never gives up. This age is symbolized by tembang Durma.

 

Asmaradana. This word means infatuated or in love. After finishing high school, or while at university, people are old enough to start experiencing the beauty of love and begin to become attracted by members of the opposite sex. This age of falling in love and dating is symbolized by tembang Asmaradana.

 

Gambuh. The word gambuh in Javanese means suitable or matching. While dating, young people weigh up each other’s characters, as well as find out about each other’s parents and families. If they feel they are well-suited in all these respects, and if they have finished studying and found a job, the next step is to get married.

 

Dhandhanggula. The word dhandhang means crow or raven, and gula means sugar. In this life, the peak of happiness is when people get married. To remember this happy day, people often celebrate their silver wedding anniversary after 25 years, and their golden wedding anniversary after 50 years. The peak of a person’s happiness or the occasion of a wedding is symbolized by tembang Dhandhanggula.

 

Pangkur. The second syllable of this word, kur, is short for the word mungkur, which means to leave behind all that is worldly oriented. When people are married with children, they wish for their family’s happiness. They leave behind their bad habits and extravagant way of life and instead do what is right for their family’s happiness. At this time of life, when people are described as being old, it is time for them to start thinking about the hereafter and doing good deeds before their life is over. This period of life is symbolized by tembang Pangkur.

 

Megatruh/Duduk Wuluh. Megat means apart or separate, and ruh means soul or spirit, so the meaning of megatruh is death. All of God’s creatures, including human beings, will eventually pass away. This time of death is symbolized by tembang Megatruh.

 

Pocung. The word pocung, or pocong, means a dead body wrapped in a shroud. A time after death.

 

In relation to the characters of tembang macapat outlined earlier, and the fact that Pocung has a lively, happy, joyful character, even though the word  is related to death, I have been asked to comment on this apparent incongruence.

In my opinion, people should spend their lives doing good or behaving honourably in accordance with God’s command, and not do anything that is shameful or forbidden by God. In this way, we will be rewarded justly and blessed for our good deeds. This in turn will bring happiness in this life and the next. And after we die, we will be rewarded for our actions on earth and be happier and more comfortable in the hereafter. Some people are afraid to die because they cannot comprehend the idea of life after death and because during their life on earth they have failed to gain God’s grace as they have performed many bad deeds and have not lived according to His command.

 

I have also been asked what differential character and meaning I feel in singing or listening to a macapat in slendro versus the same in pelog.

The difference in character between macapat in slendro and in pelog is of a general nature.

Slendro and pelog are like an inseparable couple, or husband and wife. Slendro is like a man and pelog is like a woman.

In all his actions and behaviour, a man is calm, assured, simple, and undemanding, while a woman, on the contrary, is fickle, likes to make herself beautiful, and is often demanding.  [Sic. Ed]

In connection with this, I should explain here that songs or tembang in slendro are usually of a very simple or unadorned nature, while songs in pelog are more varied and use more variations of cengkok, luk (melodic variations which move by step), wiled, and gregel (short melodic ornaments).  [It will be noted that Pak Darsono sings all macapat in slendro, while macapat in pelog are assigned to the pesindhen. Ed]

 

As a final comment, I should say that the texts used in this CD have no connection between one tembang and another, as numerous sources were chosen spontaneously for the texts in this recording. Priority is given to the melody rather than the text. The texts follow no particular order and there is no particular grouping of characters that are suitable for each tembang.

 

 

 

 

TEXT AND TRANSLATION OF MACAPAT

Translation of the Javanese texts into English was the responsibility of Rosella Balossino with the collaboration of Adi Deswijaya and Janet Purwanto.

 

 

1 – Mijil  slendro sanga

 

Lamun sira madeg Narapati                           When you'll become a king

Yayi wekas ingong                                         My brother asking me

Apan ana ing Prabu ugerré                           Whether there is someone who can advise the king

Sastra cetha ulatana yayi                               Look for clear writings, my brother,      

Omahna dèn pasthi                                        Keep in your heart

Wulang ing sastréku                                       The teachings of my books.

 

 

2 – Mijil  pelog barang

 

Miwah lamun aprang ndhedhingini               And whenever you foresee a quarrel

Sru polah lok alok                                         Do shout loud and run

Ing batiné angempèk kuwanèn                                  Within your heart will emerge a hint:

Iya dudu duwèké pribadi                               Although this may not belong to your character

Kang mangkana yayi                                     It is the one that in such a case, young brother,

Prenahna dèn gupuh                                      You shall use without hesitation.

 

 

3 – Maskumambang  slendro sanga miring

 

Ana uga étang etangané kaki                        There are also the elucubrations of an old man

Lelima sinembah                                             Greeted with a sembah by a group of five persons

Dunungé sawijiwiji                                        About how many would be, counted one by one,

Sembah lelima punika                                    Those who greet him in the group of five.

 

 

4 – Maskumambang  pelog nem

 

Iku pantes sira tiruwa ta kaki                        It is appropriate that you emulate your grandfather

Miwah bapa biyung                                       And both your parents

Amuruk watekkan becik                                            They teach you the correct behaviour

Iku kaki èstokena                                          Be in accordance with your elders.

 

 

5 – Kinanthi  slendro sanga

 

Dhuh Déwa dhuh Jawata gung                                 Oh God, oh great Gods

Tingalana solah mami                                    Look at my condition

Sèwu lara sèwu brangta                                 One thousand people in pain one thousand in love

Tan ana timbangé mami                                             There is no one comparable to me

Yèn ta ulun tan panggiha                               When I don't meet

Kalawan pangéran mami                               My prince.

 

 

6 – Kinanthi  pelog barang

 

Narpati Rama lingnya rum                             Oh King Rama with fragrant words

Konen sesuci reresik                                      Do order to be bathed and washed

Anjarag sedya sujana                                    Yes, to intentionally become a shrewd human being

Kusuma ari Mantili                                        Noble brother Mantili

Tetéla setya sumetya                                       Clearly, to be faithfully loyal

Yekti sarat areresik                                         Is the actual necessary condition to do the cleansing.

 

 

7 – Sinom Malatsih  slendro sanga

 

Sigra manjing jroning pura                           At once enters the palace

Anoman ing pukul siji                                    Anuman at one o'clock

Katanggel wetuning wulan                             At the rising of the moon                                 

Anoman minggah ing wukir                           Anuman climbs the mountain

Wukir sajroning puri                                      Mountain inside the palace walls

Samadyaning setusetu                                    In the centre of the terraces

Ngayuh Anoman minggah                              Anuman reaches higher

Wengkoning praja kaèksi                              Looks at the palace area                                 

Akè katon gedhong gedhong jroning pura    Many stone buildings are visible.

 

 

8 – Sinom  pelog nem

 

Nulada laku utama                                         An example of good behaviour

Tumrapé wong tanah Jawi                             For the people of Java

Wong Agung ing Ngèksiganda                                   Is the great man of Ngesiganda (Mataram)

Panembahan Sénapati                                               The venerable Senopati

Kapati amarsudi                                             To intensely attain

Sudaning hawa lan nebsu                              The diminishing of passions

Pinesu tapa brata                                           By pursuing it through meditation

Tanapi ing siyang ratri                                              Day and night

Amemangun karyènak tyasing sasama                       Creating the conditions of one's own well-being.

 

 

9 – Durma Ransang  slendro sanga

 

Wus sinamber sang putri Mantilidirja                        Princess Mantilidirja was seized

Ring sang kaga Narpati                                             By the Bird King

Janthayu gya mesat                                        Janthayu immediately takes off

Ndedel ngayuh gegana                                              Rising high to the great sky

Ginéndhong sang rajaputri                           Carrying on his back the daughter of the king

Munggèng ngawiyat                                      Promptly aims to the sky

Dasamuka sira glis                                        Dasamuka.

 

 

10 – Durma  pelog barang

 

Mituturi Sang putri Mantilidirja                    Princess Mantilidirja tells that

Yèn Ramabadra mangkin                               Rambadra now

Myarsa jrih dosanya                                      Is afraid that his sin be known,

Dènira numpes ditya                                      Having exterminated the giants

Ing balané Sri Bupati                                     The army of the King,

Mila tan nedya                                                           Because then they will not

Ngupaya garwaneki                                       Search for his wife.

 

 

11 – Asmaradana  slendro sanga

 

Paduka manjinga puri                                               Your excellency should enter the palace                       

Prakawis praptaning mengsah                                  Because of the arrival of the enemies

Wanara ampuh yudané                                              The monkeys have supernatural powers in battle

Kathah bupati kang pejah                             There are many kings who died

Tumpes sawadyanira                                      Exterminated with their soldiers

Prajangga Pragangsa lampus                                   Prajangga Pragangsa died

Mintrakna lan Wirupaksa                              As well as Mintrakna and Wirupaksa.

 

 

12 – Asmaradana  pelog barang

 

Ujar waluyaning dadi                                    It is told that the well-being of a prosperous existence

Raharja ajur kéwala                                      May be badly damaged simply

Kalulun kèlu alané                                         By being carried along by wrongdoing.

Kang sami amrih raharja                               Everybody hopes, in order to be happy and safe,

Tetepé sinéwaka                                             To get a steady service at the court.

Kawangsul kang amrih hayu                         The one who wants to be safe will refuse it

Kolu kang amrih dursila                                The one who likes it is willing to do wrong.

 

 

13 – Gambuh  slendro manyura

 

Déné katelu iku                                                         In that third period (of the calendar)

Si kidang suka ing patinipun                         The happy roe-deer died

Pan si gajah aléna patinirèki                         Then the elephant not caring of danger died

Si ula ing patinipun                                        And the snake found its death

Ngandelken upasé mandos                            Because it relied on its potent poison.

 

 

14 – Gambuh  pelog nem

 

Sekar Gambuh ping catur                              The fourth is Sekar Gambuh

Kang cinatur polah kang kalantur                Telling about bad behaviour

Tanpa tutur katula tula katali                        Without guidance will make one's world tangled-up

Kadalu warsa katutuh                                               If you learn too late you'll be disdained

Kapatuh pan dadi awon                                            Getting habits that produce bad results.

 

 

15 – Dhandhanggula  slendro sanga

 

Pamedharé wasitaning ati                              Pronouncing words of wisdom

Cumanthaka aniru pujangga                         I (the author) dare to pretend to be a poet.

Dahat mudha ing batiné                                 My inner self is young

Nangingkedah ginunggung                           But I wish to reveal my thoughts.

Datan wruh yèn akèh ngèsemi                                   I don't know if many people will deride (my work)

Ameksa angrumpaka                                      I forced myself to write a poem

Basa kang kalantur                                       In copious language

Tutur kang katulatula                                    My words tell of difficulties

Tinalatèn rinuruh kalawan ririh                                Patiently and carefully proceeding

Mrih padhang ing sasmita                             To reveal clearly my inner message.

 

 

16 – Dhandhanggula  pelog nem

 

Pakolihé kaduwe sang Aji                             Things to be achieved by a king:

Ambumboni karahayoningrat                         To create well-being in the world

Lawan ta yayi malihé                                     That is, my brother, you shall

Ambecikana lurung                                        Repair the narrow streets

Myangmarga ring jaban kithèki                                And the roads outside this town

Rèhen pedhakna toya                                    Plan them close to water

Sumber sendhang sètu                                               Like wells, springs, dams,

Pancur pancuran telaga                                Fountains, ponds.

Urut marga wehana balé sayekti                    Erect with much care a house along the road

Wèh santosèng lumampah                              That give cantonment to those who walk by.

 

 

17 – Pangkur  slendro sanga

 

Suka Sri Ramawijaya                                     Rama the Victorious is exultant

Mulat sagung wré prawira wus prapti                       Seeing the courageous monkeys already there

Lir gora gambira catur                                              Producing a frightfully gay chatter

Yayah basmèng Ngalengka                            As when Ngalenka was burned.

Dékangbala wanara samya gulagul              The troops of the monkeys are horrifying

Samoha maha saktiman                                             All have strong magical powers

Gumregut anggegirissi                                               Forceful and frightening.

 

 

18 – Pangkur Kasmaran  pelog nem

 

Ature Prabu Sugriwa                                      King Sugriwa reports that

Luhira dres Ragutama Narpati                                   King Ragutama's tears flow

Sang harya Wibisana nglud                           While the noble Wibisana pursues

Myangtaruna Leksmana                                Young Laksmana.

Ngingseg ingseg sadaya wré kang andulu     All the monkeys, seeing that, cry uncontrollably

Wré tan bisa anangisi                                     But monkeys cannot cry

Kabèh tinon kadi tulis                                    They all look petrified.

 

 

19 – Dudukwuluh  slendro sanga

 

Nora kena sinelak selak pineluk                               Do not permit hastily to be embraced

Mringkang ngadhangadhang sisip                By one who waits for his mistakes to be forgotten

Yèn loro anggep irèku                                               If those two think that I

Temah kèthèr maring ngening                                    Will neglect to make clear

Adoh kaelettan adoh                                      Things that are remote in the past.

 

 

20 – Megatruh  pelog barang

 

Sira Prabu Gunawan manembah nuhun                    King Gunawan, I am grateful to your Highness

Wong Agung ngandika malih                         For I speak once again to the great man.

Yayi yèn ingsun tan ayun                               My brother, what I do not desire

Kang sawenèh ana angling                            Is that there be someone who speaks

Mbesuk ing palastraning ngong                                In the future at the time of my death.

 

 

21 – Pucung  slendro sanga

 

Ngelmu iku kalakoné kanthi laku                  That knowledge which is obtained through experience

Lekasse lawan kas                                         Starts with a steady will

Tegesé kas nyantosani                                               To seriously strengthen

Setya budya pangekesé dur angkara             A loyal character that overcomes passions and greed.

 

 

22 – Pucung  pelog barang

 

Abot ènthèng wong duwé sanak sadulur                   A man has heavy and light relatives

Enthèngé yen pisah                                        They are easy when on their own

Pikiré tan dadi siji                                         But this is not the only point of view

Abotipun yèn sabiyantu ing karsa                  They become difficult when one needs their help.

 

 

23 – Wirangrong  pelog nem

 

Dèn samya marsudeng budi                           Concentrate your efforts to train your mind

Weweka dipun waspaos                                             Be always on guard and alert

Aja dumèh dumèh bisa muwus                                   Do not speak, just because you can,

Yèn tan pantes ugi                                          If it is not also appropriate

Sanadyan mung sakecap                               Not even a single word

Yèn tan pantes prenahira                               When the place is not suitable.

 

 

 

 

A NOTE by Sukamso

 

The programme for this recording contains vocal music (macapat), genderan (solo music for gender), and sulingan (solo music for suling, the Javanese bamboo flute). The pieces for gender which I play in this recording use various techniques, such as grambyangan, pathetan, ada-ada, gender introduction (buka), and melody (lagu), each having different characteristics. John Noise Manis conceived the inclusion of the instrumental pieces among the vocal music as a 'comment' and a reflection of the mood of the preceding macapat. This makes the result not monotonous and should provide the listener with an interesting musical challenge.

Note on Track 38 - Genderan duo on Ladrang Pangkur

The performance on this track of the gender part for Ladrang Pangkur pélog barang may be divided in three sections. I play the first section (0:00 to 2:43), beginning in irama wiled ciblon, then in the second gatra of the first kenong, the irama changes to rangkep. The variations in the gender part, known as wiledan, are of an individual nature, and vary from one player to another. In the world of karawitan, differences in wiledan, and sometimes even cengkok, are not a problem. In this performance, the wiledan performed by me are the result of an accumulation of my own experience and creativity as a gender specialist.

The second section (from 2:43) of the gender part for Ladrang Pangkur pélog barang begins in irama wiled ciblon, and is performed by Ibu Kris Sukardi, the best female gender player at this time. The wiledan played by Ibu Kris are shaped by her vast experience as a gender player who often accompanies shadow puppet theatre (wayang kulit). Some of her cengkok and wiledan are different from those of other (female) gender players. She tends to play with fast rhythms and her wiledan are full of ornaments which makes her gender playing bright and melodious.

On the approach to the gong at the end of the first gong cycle, the irama changes to rangkep. After the (virtual) gong (at 4:31), the second gender player, myself, joins in, playing in laras sléndro, while Ibu Kris continues to play in laras pélog. This combination of the sléndro and pélog tuning with different wiledan creates, in my opinion, an intense, powerful, and highly attractive performance.

 

 

A NOTE by Supardi

 

For the suling pieces that I play in this recording, I freely chose the cengkok (musical patterns), trying to match with the preceding male or female vocal part. There are a few cengkok which are directly influenced by the macapat melody. This connection is especially clear in track 6; the suling ending in track 14 copies the preceding vocal melody.

 

 

 

 

TRACK LISTING, CONTENT, AND PERFORMERS

 

Track 01   1:09   macapat Mijil slendro sanga  -  Darsono  

Track 02   0:29   sulingan on Mijil slendro  -  Supardi

Track 03   1:22   macapat Mijil pelog barang  -  Sri Suparsih

Track 04   0:54   macapat Maskumambang slendro sanga miring  -  Darsono

Track 05   1:01   macapat Maskumambang pelog nem  -  Sri Suparsih

Track 06   0:38   sulingan on Maskumambang pelog  -  Supardi

Track 07   1:01   macapat Kinanthi slendro sanga  -  Darsono

Track 08   1:08   macapat Kinanthi pelog barang  -  Sri Suparsih

Track 09   2:24   genderan grimingan pelog  -  Sukamso

Track 10   1:36   macapat Sinom Malatsih slendro sanga  -  Darsono

Track 11   2:21   genderan Sendhon Abi Many slendro sanga  -  Sukamso

Track 12   1:50   macapat Sinom pelog nem  -  Yayuk Sri Rahayu

Track 13   1:13   macapat Durma Ransang slendro sanga  -  Darsono

Track 14   0:50   sulingan on Durma Ransang slendro  -  Supardi

Track 15   1:22   macapat Durma pelog barang  -  Sri Suparsih

Track 16   1:04   macapat Asmaradana slendro sanga  -  Darsono

Track 17   1:29   genderan Emplek-Emplek Ketepu slendro sanga  -  Sukamso

Track 18   1:23   macapat Asmaradana pelog barang  -  Sri Suparsih

Track 19   0:45   sulingan on Asmaradana pelog  -  Supardi

Track 20   1:00   macapat Gambuh slendro manyura  -  Darsono

Track 21   1:17   macapat Gambuh pelog nem  -  Yayuk Sri Rahayu

Track 22   1:36   genderan Ada-Ada pelog nem  -  Sukamso

Track 23   1:57   macapat Dhandhanggula slendro sanga  -  Darsono

Track 24   1:46   genderan pathetan slendro sanga  -  Sukamso

Track 25   1:55   macapat Dhandhanggula pelog nem  -  Sri Suparsih

Track 26   1:24   macapat Pangkur slendro sanga  -  Darsono

Track 27   1:44   genderan Buka Gadhung Mlati slendro sanga  -  Sukamso

Track 28   1:28   macapat Pangkur Kasmaran pelog nem  -  Sri Suparsih

Track 29   0:38   sulingan on Pangkur Kasmaran pelog  -  Supardi

Track 30   1:02   macapat Dudukwuluh slendro sanga  -  Darsono

Track 31   1:08   macapat Megatruh pelog barang  -  Yayuk Sri Rahayu

Track 32   0:21   sulingan on Megatruh pelog  -  Supardi

Track 33   0:37   macapat Pucung slendro sanga  -  Darsono

Track 34   0:57   macapat Pucung pelog barang  -  Sri Suparsih

Track 35   0:47   sulingan on Pucung pelog  -  Supardi

Track 36   3:24   genderan Jineman pelog nem  -  Sukamso

Track 37   1:27   tembang tengahan Wirangrong pelog nem  -  Darsono

Track 38   6:51   genderan duo on ldr. Pangkur  -  Sukamso (pelog), Ibu Pringgo (pelog), Ibu Pringgo/Sukamso (pelog/slendro)

 

Total Time  55:20

Note: some 'paper noise' may be heard on Tracks 4 and 7

 

 

 

Performers:

            Vocal:   Darsono           (Tracks 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 20, 23, 26, 30, 33, 37)

                        Sri Suparsih     (Tracks 3, 5, 8, 15, 18, 25, 28, 34)

                        Yayuk Sri Rahayu        (Tracks 12, 21, 31)

            Gender:            Sukamso          (Tracks 9, 11, 17, 22, 24, 27, 36, 38)

                                   Ibu Pringgo Hadiwiyono [Ibu Kris Sukardi]  (Track 38)

            Suling:              Supardi            (Tracks 2, 6, 14, 19, 29, 32, 35)

 

Recording of macapat – ISI Surakarta, 23 September, 2008

Recording of gender and suling – ISI Surakarta, 3 July, 2010

 

 

Musical Design, Recording, Mastering, and Photos – John Noise Manis

 

YANTRA – Production and Digital Release