The
presentation of Kombang Mara is the most interesting offering in this
CD. In reconstructing the process
of composing Kombang Mara, I find a complex mind of the composer in
creating this piece. The merong
part, the first section of the piece, is composed based on the process
of contracting or expanding phrases of a song of the puppeteer (dhalang), the sulukan Pelog Lima Wantah. The contraction and expansion were necessary
so that the uneven line of the song could be fitted into the symmetrical
64-beats gongan cyclic structure subdivided in quarters by the kenong
strokes. In essence, Kombang
Mara is the result of recompositioning of a song of the dhalang
whose melodies should be made to fit the symmetrical structure of
the gamelan piece. This is
one of the best examples of the embodiment of vocal idiom in gamelan
pieces.
Kombang
Mara in the CD also shows an intimate relationship between vocal music
and this piece, but it is presented in an explicit and experimental
way. The piece is literally
made to connect with Mas Kumambang, Kinanthi, Asmaradana, and Mijil.
These are unaccompanied song from the the song genre macapat. I said literally because these songs are sung
in a variety of ways on top
of the pieces itself. At times,
two songs are sung together with a slight delay from one another. This is done by selecting certain phrases to
be juxtaposed with particular phrases of the piece. In the transitional phrases to and the beginning
of inggah (the second section
of the piece), the singing stops; some elaborating instruments,
sometimes rebab alternating
with celempung, sometimes bonang, are featured. This happens only in the first gongan section.
The singing joins again in the second gongan section in the
style described above.
It
would be useful to hear the musicians’ comments on the process of
creating this experiment and its result, as well as the motivation
of the producer for this interesting project. To me the experiment demonstrates the intimate
relationship between vocal idiom and gamelan pieces, such as Kombang
Mara.
Other
pieces are performed within the idiom of traditional gamelan playing,
but in different variants, except Glendheng.
This is an instrumental gendhing bonang piece whose second
section contains a rather animated rhythm of the balungan
part, especially when it is played in a fast tempo of irama
tanggung, the climax of the piece.
The playing of Puspa Warna in pelog
is rare, but the practice of playing pelog
piece in slendro is not
uncommon. Musicians find certain
excitements and even pleasant surprises resulting from new articulations
and the treatment of the piece in its new tuning system. As a reminder, the producer includes Puspa Warna
performed in its original tuning system, laras slendro. Puspa Warna
is one of the nine pieces called Sendhon Langen Swara. They were composed in the mid.19th century at
the Mangkunegaran palace during the reign of the prince Mangkunegara
IV; the prince himself is often cited as the composer of the pieces. Originally, each of the pieces was introduced
by a vocal introduction (bawa),
consisting of solo singing of a poetic meter; each piece has its own
bawa. In
the present CD, the chorus part in the ngelik section is sung in a mixed chorus of male and female singers.
There is no evidence about the original practice of performing
Puspa Warna in the mid. 19th century. Commonly in today’s practice, the metrical chorus
part is sung by a chorus of two or more male singer (gerong), while the solo female (pesinden) sings a non-metrical part on
the basis of the chorus melodies.
I
appreciate that for a second time the producer of this CD asked
me to write a critical commentary of his CDs. I hope this kind of dialogue will provide listeners
with sufficient contextual information about the way this CD is made.
Javanese texts
and English translation
PARISUKA
Para kanca aparisuka tetabuhan sinawung
tembang
Pra kanca samya ka suka,
Tetembangan anglipur driya,
Datan supe angolah rasa,
Rasa inkang lumantar swara.
Sinawunging pradangga ngrerangin,
Kang pradangga munya ngungkung,
Rebut yatmakaning gendhing,
Ya bapak, ya bapak, karya horeg ing bawana,
Bawana kinelem sari, andhe,
Sarining kang rasa mulya,
Rasa mulya sung basuki.
ENJOY
Friends, who love playing and singing,
Friends, let's enjoy the same things,
And sing to make our hearts happy,
Don't forget to calm your feelings,
Feelings conveyed by your singing.
Expressed as a song for a melodious gamelan,
A sweet sounding gamelan ,
Showing clearly the soul of the gendhing,
Yes father, yes father, sound that shakes
the world,
The world as if it were immersed in the
essence,
The essence of noble feelings,
Noble feelings that give happiness.
Sindhenan
I for KOMBANG MARA (The Flight
of the Bumblebee)
MASKUMAMBANG
Pra Pandawa kaselung jroning wanadri,
Kalih welas warsa, tambah sawarsa sesingit,
Pranya lulus raharja.
The Pandawa were exiled in the forest
For twelve years, and spent one more year
hidden.
All of them got through the proof successfully.
ASMARANDANA
Dhuh Gusti pepujan mami,
Memanising sabuwana,
Tuhu mustikaning anom,
Sapa ingkang kaya sira,
Tangeh yen ana mimba ,
Bisa temen karya gandrung,
Nyikara wong tanpa dosa.
Oh my esteemed Prince,
The sweetest in the world,
Jewel of youth indeed,
Even having your looks,
There could be nobody like you,
Who can really make an innocent love you
And then hurt her.
MIJIL
Lamun sira madeg Narapati,
Yayi wekasing ngong,
Apan anaing prabu ugere,
Sastra cetha ulatana yayi,
Omahna den pathi,
Wulange sastreku
When you'll become a king,
My brother who ask me,
Whether there is someone who can advise
the King,
Look for clear writings, my brother,
Keep in your heart,
The teachings of my books.
Sindhenan
II for KOMBANGMARA
KINANTHI
Mangka kanthining tumuwuh,
Salami mung awas eling,
Eling lukitaning alam,
Dadi wiryaning dumadi,
Supadi niring sangsaya,
Yeku pangreksaning urip.
Even towards your youth companions,
Remember to be not only friendly but sharp.
Keep in mind the history of the world,
Behave as a dauntless man,
In order to be increasingly powerful,
In other words, to protect your life.
MIJIL
Rehning janma, tama nguni uni,
Kang mengku kaprabon,
Ingkang nistha kawruhana kabeh,
Miwah wadya
utama ywa lali,
Lire siji siji,
Den kena ywa tungkul.
It is said that the behaviour of a noble
man
Who sits on the throne,
Is to discover what is contemptible
And at the same time do not forget his most
loyal men.
In fact, no one of them
Can be struck unexpectedly.
ASMARANDANA
Welasana dasih mami,
Kang lalu linglung tyas brangta,
Leng leng manglamong sira ngger,
Wuyung hanawung wiyoga,
Ngranuhi karungrungan,
Ndaleming siyang lan dalu,
Tumon tumonton mring sira.
Love song
Be compassionate to me,
Who, in love, with a confused heart,
Is always raving about you.
Bewildered I gather my sorrows,
I'm ever more sad and madly in love
Day and night locked in,
Always having your image in my mind.
MASKUMAMBANG
Amiwiti ngatur marang klairane,
Tumrap para putra,
Taberi denya andhidhik,
Njalari mrih katentreman.
Start giving a clear direction to the rules
Concerning all the children
Carefully educated by you
In order to achieve peace in life.
(Translation of the texts
was curated by Rosella Balossino with counselling from Pak Ken Kendro)
Pesindhen (female vocals): Nyi Cendaniraras, Nyi Suparsih
Gerong
(male vocals): Darsono, Rustopo, Waridi
Rebab:
Suraji
Gender:
Ibu Pringgo Hadiwiyono
Musicians: Darno, Djoko Santosa, Hadi Boediono, Joko Purwanto, Kuwat, Nyoman Sukerna,
Rusdiyantoro, Sarno, Slamet Riyadi, Sugimin, Sukamso, Supardi
playing the “ancient”
gamelan of STSI
Music coordinator: Joko Purwanto
Recordings made May
6-7, 2004, in the studio of STSI Surakarta. Sound Engineer: Iwan Onone
(Track 3 - recording July 22, 2003, playing
the "pendhapa" gamelan of STSI)
Musical Design, Mastering, and Photos : John Noise Manis
YANTRA PRODUCTIONS