Indonesian Gamelan

Question 1

taksu

Answer 1

Combination of sekala and niskala; Most sought-after achievement in performance

Question 2

sekala

Answer 2

technical mastery specific to dance/theater/music (tangible)

Question 3

niskala

Answer 3

spirit/persona gifted from Gods/deities (intangible)

Question 4

Tasku impacts others surrounding musicians by…

Answer 4

elevating them to greater level of performance.

Question 5

Three categories of Balinese gamelan are…

Answer 5

(1) ancient gamelan (kuno)
(2) middle-age gamelan (madya)
(3) new/more recent gamelan (baru)

Question 6

ancient gamelan (AKA gamelan kuno)

Answer 6

Mostly sacred; Inside temples; Smaller size; NO KENDANG (drum)

Question 7

middle-age gamelan (AKA gamelan madya)

Answer 7

Primarily features drums/gongs; Drum have significant leadership role in ensemble; MAN LEADS

Question 8

new/more recent gamelan (AKA gamelan baru)

Answer 8

Drums have significant leadership role in ensemble; Drummers required to perform with gaya; High virtuosic competence in improvisation; WOMAN LEADS

Question 9

gaya

Answer 9

flashy, demonstrative energy

Question 10

Instruments found in the gong kebyar ensemble include…

Answer 10

gangsa, reyong, gong ageng, kempur, kemong, panggul, kendang, suling, rebab; MOSTLY MADE OF BRONZE

Question 11

Drumming types found in the gong kebyar ensemble include…

Answer 11

(1) solo drumming (kendang tunggal) and (2) paired drumming (kendang mepasangan).

Question 12

gangsa

Answer 12

metallophone instrument on wooden frame

Question 13

reyong

Answer 13

set of pitch kettle gongs

Question 14

gong ageng, kempur, kemong

Answer 14

unpitched hanging gongs

Question 15

panggul

Answer 15

variety of mallets to strike these instruments

Question 16

kendang

Answer 16

two-headed drum

Question 17

suling

Answer 17

bamboo flute

Question 18

rebab

Answer 18

bowed chordophone

Question 19

bebas

Answer 19

Free (literal translation); Describes act of improvisation in solo drumming

Question 20

What and how is bebas used?

Answer 20

Rarely used as an invitation to create spontaneous patterns; Refers to recreation/recycling of stock phrase based on drummers’ rhythmic vocabulary

Question 21

Aspects of drumming improvisation include…

Answer 21

(1) meguru gending, (2) kutang-dudak, (3) meguru igel

Question 22

meguru gending

Answer 22

Applicable to solo drumming; Method for choosing/creating drum patterns that will fit with specific melody/meter markings

Question 23

kutang-dudak

Answer 23

Collective improvisation for paired drumming; Drummers creatively change basic paired drumming patterns by manipulating/transforming sounds, anticipating their partner’s strokes, and syncopating in unpredictable ways

Question 24

meguru igel

Answer 24

Applicable to solo drumming; Method for drummers react/anticipate movements in dances that do not have fixed choreography

Question 25

The most widely know genre of Balinese gamelan is...

Answer 25

gong kebyar.

Question 26

kebyar

Answer 26

to flare up or burst open (refer to explosive changes in tempo/dynamic characteristic of style)

Question 27

Tuning systems within a full gamelan include...

Answer 27

(1) slendro and (2) pelog.

Question 28

pathetan

Answer 28

tuning system

Question 29

slendro

Answer 29

five tones per octave

Question 30

pelog

Answer 30

seven tones per octave

Question 31

Javanese gamelan music is structured based on...

Answer 31

repeating cycles featuring gradual development/variation/elaboration and improvisational elements.

Question 32

Role of drummer in gamelan performance is to...

Answer 32

lead cues; establish eye contact; monitor group; dictate order/nature of rehearsal/performance procedures.