ENDAH LARAS and Dedek Gamelan Orchestra – A sensation between traditional and modern Java
Notes written by John Noise Manis in collaboration with Pak Dedek Wahyudi, Endah Laras, and Danis Sugiyanto.
Track 1 – Gandrung Temenan (solo) 2:36
This song was created by Endah Laras. The melody draws inspiration from the Banyuwangen song style, the lyrics are in Javanese. Lyrics and title tell about the pains of passionate love.
eman...eman...eman... duh wong bagus... duh wong bagus... wong bagus isun kedani esuk awan sore wengi tansah kelingan esemane... esemane... esemane... esemane... lirikane gawe atiku deg-degan apa iki... apa iki... sing jenenge... sing jenenge... lagi kasmaran saben saben... mung tansah dadi pikiran gandrung-gandrung... gandrung marang riko ati bingung gek tambane apa gandrung-gandrung... gandrung marang riko apa ra krasa atiku mung marang riko mangan tahu yo mas yo... jok dicampur duku kangen rindu... kangen rindu... tambane kudu ketemu tambane kudu ketemu...
True Passion Pity, pity, pity Oh you beautiful, you beautiful, beautiful you, I’m bewildered by my emotions Morning, day, evening, night always remembering Your smile, your smile, your smile, your smile, your glances make my heart startle What is this, what is this, what’s its name? it’s being in love All the time I just have a constant thought Passionately in love, I’m in love with you My heart is confused. Is there any remedy? Feed me with tofu, oh yes, but don’t mix it with duku I miss you, A medicine, I crave to meet you
Track 2 – Umbul-Umbul Blambangan 2:19
This piece is a kind of bawa Banyuwangen. Bawa is a term normally used in Javanese karawitan. It is performed by a vocalist as an introduction in order to embellish a gendhing. In this composition, the bawa Banyuwangen is not used as an introduction to a gendhing, but rather to demonstrate that it can be a stand-alone piece. The bawa Banyuwangen, like bawa in karawitan, tends to be refined, smooth. In this bawa, composed by Bs Nurdian/Dadang Cy, the garap consists of adding accents to the balungan instruments.
membyat mayun eman suarane gendhing belambangan nyerambahi nuswantara banyuwangi kulon gunung wetan segara lor lan kidul alas angker kang keliwat-liwat belambangan belambangan aja takon susah seneng kang disangga tanah endah gumelaring gumelaring taman sari nuswantara
Blambangan Pennants Going up to the sky The sound of a Blambangan gendhing Spreads all over the islands In Banyuwangi, westwards are mountains, eastwards the ocean, North and south there are haunted forests Belambangan belambangan Don’t ask anyone about happiness and sadness The beautiful country reveals itself A garden Indonesia
Track 3 – Gelang Alit 5:26
The authors of this song are Fatrah Abal and Mahfud Hariyanto from Banyuwangi. This piece has already been arranged in many ways using different Javanese musical traditions. In this re-elaboration a version in the Javanese gamelan style has been expressly chosen, keeping however the Banyuwangi style as the founding idea for its garap. One distinctive feature which is not of the Banyuwangi style is the garap in singing which is without ornamentation and loud, “not soft”. The patterns that are played interlocking saron and kinthilan,are also played by kendhang, which uses sekaran patterns that are followed by the bonang accents (“sekaran”- technique which transforms the kendhang patterns of Sundanese style into the orchestration of a composition).
wus kelakon semene lawase isun ya riko kedani semana sun imbangi mula riko kudangane ati segara ya ana pesisire sun welas ana watese wedang kopi balung nangka rina wengi sun mung katon riko ya wis kelendi maning saiki sewang-sewangan kepingin kumpul maning nanging ra ana dalane eman mendahne ya ya seneng e ati ketemu ring dina mburi gelang alit ring driji aja lali tumekaning pati
A Ring It happened long ago, you and I were deeply in love At the beginning I was so important for you that you promised me your heart The sea has a shore, I, poor one, also have limits Coffe and jackfruit bones Day and night you appear to me How can it be that we look again at each other’s eyes I wish we were together again, but there is no way Oh how happy would be my heart if we could be together for one last day Ring on my finger, don’t forget until I die.
Track 4 – Entog Mulang 3:25
This is a folksong in Sundanese music style. It features the accompaniment of a Sundanese rebab.
kajeun balik ngaligincing suka mulang da ngalongkewang abdimah anteurkeun bae anteurkeun ka nagarana nagara anu baheula nagara anu baheula alah...alah...alah..... jangkung najan kahalangan gunung geuranya emang....emang...emang.....emang.... eey...eey...ey...ey...ey...ey...ey...ey...ey...ey...ey...ey toyod tongkrong los kakolong kojengkang ngajingjing hayam kaditu agan kadieu agan bet asa kabina-bina mana abong-abong teuing mana nyeri-nyeri teuing entog abdi dapangmulangkeun entog abdipangmulangkeun dapangmulangkeun
Track 5 – Bawa Cahya Sumirat 2:44
This is an arrangement of a traditional Sundanese bawa with the same title. In this orchestration, a Javanese gender is added.
paingan atuh paingan teu tebih ti sangka ati gusti kagungan panyawat panyawat nu langkung lantip teu kaop lepat saeutik gusti babarian bendu sarupi mundut lantaran hoyong pisah sareng abdi mun kitu mah gusti the ngaraos hina
Track 6 – Bajing Luncat 6:40
Bajing Luncat is a song from West Java, which is popular in the whole island of Java. Even in isolated communities people share some kind of garap of Bajing Luncat. Here the arrangement uses a garap for the melody of the song based on playing the accents and patterns of 'sekaran' on a Sundanese kendhang. Such kendhang patterns are used as a medium to convey melody to the balungan instruments.
bajing luncat bajing luncat kaastana ieung abdi lepat narosan teu ti anggalna bajing luncat bajing luncat kaastana ieung abdi lepat narosan teu ti anggalna ku teu sangka salira bet luas pisan teu hawatos kanu kesel ngantos ngantos api api teu emut kana pasini pasini pakait ati aduh pakait ati
Track 7 – Macapat Dhandhangula slendro 2:59
This macapat is taken from Wulangreh (part I), written by Sri Sunan Paku Buwana IV.
pamedhare wasitaning ati cumanthaka haniru pujangga dahat mudha ing batine nanging kedah ginunggung datan wruh yen akeh ngesemi ameksa angrumpaka basa kang kalantur tutur kang katula-tula tinalaten rinuruh kalawan ririh mrih padhang ing sasmita
Pronouncing wisdom I [the author] dare to pretend to be a poet My inner self is young. But I wish to reveal my thought I don’t know if many people will deride [my work]. I forced myself to write a poem In copious language my pronouncement is winding around. Patiently and carefully I proceed To reveal my inner message clearly.
Track 8 – Macapat Sinom slendro 2:57
The text of this popular macapat, Sinom Rujak Jeruk, is by Ki Nartosabdo.
angadhang neng tengah lawang rajang rajang iris iris kawula reracik rujak tan kendhat tansah cecawis mugi dadiya jampi rujake kinecer jeruk neng layah lambah lambah gula jawa lombok trasi nora suwe bapakne thole wus teka
At the centre of the door Food cut and sliced And servants preparing a small fruit salad Without interruption constantly supplied May it happen that it becomes a medicine Lemon juice will be squeezed over the salad In the mortar forming poodles Java sugar, chili pepper, shrimp paste Father of my son will soon be coming
Track 9 – Ilir-Ilir 5:11
The text of this composition has been inspired by teachings about life written by Sunan Kalijaga, one of the masters and founders of spiritual Islam in Java. The music, written by Dedek Wayudi in the form of a gamelan composition, is played by a pelog Javanese gamelan plus Sundanese drums and violin ('biola'). The garap patterns derive from techniques of Javanese, Sundanese and Balinese gamelan, developed in the style of the Balinese cencandhetan, after having combined them with Javanese imbal.
ilir ilir tandure wus sumilir ijo royo royo tak sengguh temanten anyar bocah angon penekna blimbing kuwi lunyu-lunyu penekna kanggo mbasuh dhodhot ira dhodhot ira kumitir bedhah ing pinggir damana jlumatana kanggo seba mengko sore mumpung gede rembulane mumpung jembar kalangane yo surak a surak hi yo
Ilir-Ilir Bright green bamboo flags blowing in the field Planted by a newly-wed couple. Please herdsboy climb on that blimbing tree It’s very slippery but he climbs to wash your dodot The dodot flutters and rips on the side Carefully mended with fine stitches to wander around before dark Take advantage of the full moon, take advantage while the opportunity is there Let’s cheer hurrah
Track 10 – Kroncong Moritsko 4:10
This song is an ancient heritage from the descendants of the Portuguese who lived in the village of Tugu (Jakarta). Several written sources about the history of kroncong music say that this singing style was influenced by the Mores of Northern Africa. The structure of Kroncong Moritsko respects the form of “authentic kroncong”. Up to now, in fact, this stucture has been preserved by the performers of Indonesian kroncong.
Jikalau tuan.....mendengarkan ini..... If you listen to this song, sir Hope that your heart will be happy Hooo, hooo, playing the guitar And singing makes people understand that your heart is cheerful Hoo, hoo I sing Kroncong Moritzko, oh dear So that my homesick heart becomes happy
Track 11 – Kroncong Kemayoran 2:48
Before the ‘20s of last century, the territory of Betawi (Kemayoran, Jakarta) was still pervaded by the 'premanisme'. A single person was thought to be a 'champion' not only when he was good in fist-fights but also when he showed his cleverness in singing poems in 'pantun' verses. (Pantun is traditional poetry, each verse of which is a quatrain divided into two couplets which contain questions and answers. It is sung in contests where two or more persons sing a quatrain in turns.) People sing kroncong Kemayoran because this melody is adapted to as many repertoires of pantun poems as the singer knows. Furthermore, the more various are the kinds of pantun the more intensely people sing (which is possible also for a 'preman'). Usually the pantun lyrics contain a sampiran (first couplet) and an isi (second couplet). The sampiran describes a natural ambience or phenomenon, while isi, the explanation part, replies in a humorous way or with sweet talk of love. A Kemayoran song can last a long time because it offers the technique of singing by turns.
Track 12 – Lindri (medley) 8:40
Starting from the idea of gathering some of the dolanan (songs for children) still existing in Central Java, some of them have been assembled by Dedek Wayudi in a piece with a new kind of garap. The dolanan are: Lindri. Jamuran, Cempa plus macapat Maskumambang. In this piece there are two different kinds of garap. One part of the composition has the jineman traditional form which still conforms with the rules of Javanese tradition, while the other part of the composition adopts the garap patterns of Balinese kothekan. The instruments used are the ones of the slendro Javanese gamelan. The garap technique mixes Java, Sunda and Bali styles.
Track 13 – Isih Tresno (solo) 3:31
Lyrics and melody by Endah Laras. The idea of this song comes from the musical style of the pasisir Tegal – a coastal area in the northern part of Java. The pasisir style, compared to the Central Java palaces styles, is characterized by higher tones and more dynamic rhythms.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
Endah Laras was born in Solo on August 3, 1976. Daughter of a dhalang, her talent manifested itself since very young. After winning a dance competition in 1988 in Solo, she became interested in the arts, especially singing and dancing. Grew up in Jakarta. Won a number of prizes in singing competitions (1992-1994). In 1996 started her professional career as a singer. She worked in projects of a number of Indonesian composers and recorded several commercial music albums up until 2008. She participated as singer in many creative works of puppeteers and dance choreographers. In 2009 was on tour in Europe in the wayang kulit show 'Dewa Ruci' led by the unorthodox dhalang Ki Enthus Susmono (with Dedek Gamelan Orchestra). In 2010 was in Europe again in the rendition for the theatre of Garin Nugroho's film 'Opera Jawa' with music by Rahayu Supanggah, premiered at the International Gamelan Festival Amsterdam. It was while attending a rehearsal of this work in Solo that the producer of the present CD was struck by the outstanding richness and capabilities of Endah's multicoloured voice.
Dedek Wahyudi was born in Klaten on June 1, 1960. He studied gamelan music at SMKI and STSI Surakarta. He has a vast experience as composer – for over 20 years has been active in composing both traditional and contemporary music. His compositional style is characterized by consistency in the creative process and language (which also means that it can be easily recognized). In 1994 was guest composer with the Gamelan Pacifica Group in Seattle, USA. In 1997 was invited by the South Bank Gamelan Players in London. He has done many collaborations in cross-cultural contexts. Has collaborated with Evelyn Glennie of England and with Ong Keng Sen (Singapore). Has created stage works for various festivals in USA (1993, 1995), Jakarta (1993, 1995), Korea (1995), England (1997). His particular expertise in music for dance and theatre has attracted choreographers like Sardono W Kusumo, Slamet Gundono, Mugiyono Kasido, Dedy Lutan, Sulistyo Tirto Kusumo, with whom there has been artistic collaboration. He is the composer for the theatre of Kisah Perjuangan Suku Naga directed by W.S. Rendra, as well as for the works of Gapit Theatre Surakarta.
TRACKS
1 – Gandrung Temenan (solo) 2:36 2 – Umbul-Umbul Blambangan 2:19 3 – Gelang Alit 5:26 4 – Entog Mulang 3:25 5 – Bawa Cahya Sumirat 2:44 6 – Bajing Luncat 6:40 7 – Macapat Dhandhangula slendro 2:59 8 – Macapat Sinom slendro 2:57 9 – Ilir-Ilir 5:11 10 – Kroncong Moritsko 4:10 11 – Kroncong Kemayoran 2:48 12 – Lindri (medley) 8:40 13 – Isih Tresno (solo) 3:31
Endah Laras – the voice in all tracks
Dedek Gamelan Orchestra – Dedek Wahyudi, director Players: Ajus Sunda (guest musician, drums) Danis Sugiyanto (also violin in tracks 2, 3, 6, 9, and ukulele in tracks 10, 11) Lumbini Sunardi Agus Prasetyo Jungkung
Recordings made in Solo, July 2010, by Iwan Onone and John Noise Manis Mastering and photos by John Noise Manis
Yantra Productions
|