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Performance Gamelan Ensemble
Each gamelan has a unique tuning and character—instruments in one set are tuned to each other and are not interchangeable with instruments from other sets. Gamelan sets are often named to reflect their individual character. The University of Pittsburgh gamelan, which arrived in October 1995, is named appropriately "Kyai Tirta Rukmi," or "Venerable Rivers of Gold." The gamelan is actually comprised of two sets of instruments, and each set is tuned to a different intervallic structure (laras). One set is tuned to laras salendro (a five-tone tuning system made up of approximately equidistant intervals), and the other set is tuned to laras pelog (a seven-tone tuning system with large and small intervals).
Each year, the Department of Music sponsors a large-scale gamelan concert. The department invites guest artists from Indonesia to serve as artists-in-residence. During their residence in Pittsburgh, guest artists present lecture-demonstrations, public lectures, workshops, and performances that reach people from a variety of sectors in the University and the broader Pittsburgh community. These events are intended to increase the community's awareness of Indonesian performing arts and culture.
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Rampak refers to a group performance and kendang is a set of three drums made up of one large drum and two small drums. Each set is played by one person and there are three sets played in this recording. Conventional rhythmic patterns played on the kendang are arranged and coordinated to create a feeling of excitement. The piece played on the gamelan is a new composition (karangan anyar) based on the tonal structure of a traditional piece ("Gendu"). For concert information and tickets, call 412-624-4125, or visit our Event Calendar. University Gamelan performance events, 1998–2004"Wayang Golek Puppet Theater of West Java." Bellefield Auditorium, April 9 and 10, 2004 (with guest artists Dalang Otong Rasta and Dalang Atik Rasta Prawira). "Puppet Theater and Gamelan Music of West Java, Indonesia." Bellefield Auditorium, April 11 and 12, 2003 (with guest artists Undang Sumarna, Kathy Foley, and Henry Spiller). "Music and Dance of West Java, Indonesia." Bellefield Auditorium, April 12 and 13, 2002 (with guest artists Undang Sumarna, Yoseph Iskandar, and Ben Arcangel). "Ramayana: A Cross-Cultural Dance Drama of India and Indonesia." Bellefield Auditorium, March 23 and 24, 2001 (with guest artists Undang Sumarna, Sri Susilowati, Sreyashi Dey, and Srishti Dances of India). "Sundanese Music and Dance." Bellefield Auditorium, March 18, 2000 (with guest artists Undang Sumarna, Laksmi Purwanti Margarani, and Ben Arcangel). "Sundanese Music and Dance." Bellefield Auditorium, March 27, 1999 (with guest artists Undang Sumarna and Burhan Sukarma). "Sundanese Music and Dance." Bellefield Auditorium, March 21, 1998 (with guest artists Undang Sumarna and Sri Susilowati). RepertoireDance ( Ibing )1998
1999
2000
2002
Dance Drama (Sendratari)2001
Vocal Music (Kawih)1998
1999
2000
2002
2003
Vocal Music (Tembang Sunda)1999
Martial Arts (Penca Silat)2002
Instrumental Music ( Gending )1998
1999
2000
2002
2003
2004
Puppet Theater (Wayang Golek)2003
2004
Director: Andrew Weintraub |
Ensembles
Concert Series |
The
University of Pittsburgh gamelan ensemble plays the gamelan music
of the Sundanese people, an ethnic group that inhabits roughly
the western third of the island of Java. Gamelan refers to a set
of predominantly percussion instruments including tuned gongs,
metal-keyed instruments, and drums (as well as bowed lute and
voice). Gamelan music is played as accompaniment to dance, drama,
puppet theater, and martial arts, as well as for concerts of listening
music. Gamelan is performed in conjunction with special occasions
and to mark important life cycle events.
The University of Pittsburgh gamelan group is composed of students as well as community members. The participants in the gamelan program are encouraged to use Sundanese processes of learning as much as possible; oral transmission of musical parts is preferred over written notation and working together as an ensemble is more important than developing individual talent. Students are also encouraged to learn and play more than one instrument and to learn the relationships among them. Therefore, in our concerts, the musicians move from one position to another in order to put into practice what they have learned.