American gamelan
Encyclopedia
American gamelan could refer to both instruments and music
; the term has been used to refer to gamelan-style instruments built by Americans
, as well as to music written by American composers to be played on gamelan
instruments. American gamelan music usually has some relationship to the gamelan traditions of Indonesia
, as found primarily on the islands of Java and Bali
in a variety of styles. Many American compositions can be played on Indonesian or American made instruments. Indonesian gamelan can be made of a variety of materials, including bronze
, iron
, or bamboo
. American gamelan builders used all sorts of materials including aluminum, tin cans, car hubcaps, steel, antique milk-strainers, etc. American gamelan may also describe the original music of American ensembles working with traditional instruments.
Dennis Murphy
is often credited as being the first American to build instruments modeled on those of the Javanese gamelan
, circa 1960. This work led to his doctoral thesis at Wesleyan University
, entitled "The Autochthonous American Gamelan." Murphy started a gamelan group with his instruments at Goddard College
in Vermont
in 1967; that group later became the community-based Plainfield Village Gamelan.
There have been other American builders of gamelan as well, on both the East and West coasts. Following Murphy's model was Barbara Benary
, who built the instruments still used today for Gamelan Son of Lion
On the West coast, the airline industry made aluminum affordable, and this became the material of choice for several gamelan builders. Daniel Schmidt, a composer-builder, built an ensemble called "The Berkeley Gamelan" (independent of the University of California, Berkeley
) as well as the set of instruments that would developed into Gamelan Pacifica in Seattle. Paul Dresher
also used aluminum.
Lou Harrison
and William Colvig
built a set of tuned percussion instruments that they call "an American gamelan" in order to differentiate it from Indonesian ensembles. These are now referred to as "Old Granddad," and Harrison wrote some pieces that can only be played on this set, such as La Koro Sutro. Lou Harrison spent some time with a Javanese gamelan in 1976 (when Kyai Udan Mas, now at the University of California, Berkeley, was in residence at San Jose State University
). This inspired him and his partner William Colvig
to build a gamelan modelled specifically on Udan Mas (in instrumentation, although not in tuning). For this he used aluminum primarily, although the "great gong" was eventually fashioned out of iron.
Colvig and Harrison built two large "double" gamelan (meaning that there were instruments in both the pelog and slendro tunings). The first was Si Betty, named for the financial benefactor Betty Freeman
. Si Betty was bequeathed to Jody Diamond
, and is now in residence at Harvard University
. The second was named "Si Darius/Si Madeleine" after Darius Milhaud
and his wife, because it was while holding the Milhaud chair at Mills College
(where the gamelan still resides) that Harrison and Colvig had the support for its construction; a group there (as of 2008) is directed by Daniel Schmidt. Lou Harrison
was well known for his compositions for gamelan; he was particularly adept at combining western instruments with his Javanese-style gamelan ensemble. (The scores for all of his gamelan works are published by the American Gamelan Institute
).
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
; the term has been used to refer to gamelan-style instruments built by Americans
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, as well as to music written by American composers to be played on gamelan
Gamelan
A gamelan is a musical ensemble from Indonesia, typically from the islands of Bali or Java, featuring a variety of instruments such as metallophones, xylophones, drums and gongs; bamboo flutes, bowed and plucked strings. Vocalists may also be included....
instruments. American gamelan music usually has some relationship to the gamelan traditions of Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, as found primarily on the islands of Java and Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
in a variety of styles. Many American compositions can be played on Indonesian or American made instruments. Indonesian gamelan can be made of a variety of materials, including bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
, iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
, or bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
. American gamelan builders used all sorts of materials including aluminum, tin cans, car hubcaps, steel, antique milk-strainers, etc. American gamelan may also describe the original music of American ensembles working with traditional instruments.
Dennis Murphy
Dennis Murphy (musician)
Dennis Murphy was a composer, musician, instrument maker, artist, and playwright.Dennis Murphy was one of the fathers of American gamelan . Lou Harrison credits Murphy as being the first North American to build gamelan instruments...
is often credited as being the first American to build instruments modeled on those of the Javanese gamelan
Gamelan
A gamelan is a musical ensemble from Indonesia, typically from the islands of Bali or Java, featuring a variety of instruments such as metallophones, xylophones, drums and gongs; bamboo flutes, bowed and plucked strings. Vocalists may also be included....
, circa 1960. This work led to his doctoral thesis at Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
, entitled "The Autochthonous American Gamelan." Murphy started a gamelan group with his instruments at Goddard College
Goddard College
Goddard College is a private, liberal arts college located in Plainfield, Vermont, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Goddard College currently operates on an intensive low-residency model...
in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
in 1967; that group later became the community-based Plainfield Village Gamelan.
There have been other American builders of gamelan as well, on both the East and West coasts. Following Murphy's model was Barbara Benary
Barbara Benary
Barbara Benary is an American composer and ethnomusicologist specializing in Indonesian and Indian music.In 1976 she co-founded Gamelan Son of Lion with Philip Corner and Daniel Goode; she also constructed most of the group's instruments...
, who built the instruments still used today for Gamelan Son of Lion
Gamelan Son of Lion
Gamelan Son of Lion is a new-music American gamelan ensemble based in New York City. The group was founded in 1976 by Barbara Benary , Philip Corner, and Daniel Goode. It is a composers' collective as well as repertory ensemble...
On the West coast, the airline industry made aluminum affordable, and this became the material of choice for several gamelan builders. Daniel Schmidt, a composer-builder, built an ensemble called "The Berkeley Gamelan" (independent of the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
) as well as the set of instruments that would developed into Gamelan Pacifica in Seattle. Paul Dresher
Paul Dresher
Paul Joseph Dresher is an American composer. Dresher received his B.A. in music from the University of California, Berkeley and his M.A. in composition from the University of California, San Diego, where he studied with Robert Erickson, Roger Reynolds, Pauline Oliveros, and Bernard Rands.He also...
also used aluminum.
Lou Harrison
Lou Harrison
Lou Silver Harrison was an American composer. He was a student of Henry Cowell, Arnold Schoenberg, and K. P. H. Notoprojo Lou Silver Harrison (May 14, 1917 – February 2, 2003) was an American composer. He was a student of Henry Cowell, Arnold Schoenberg, and K. P. H. Notoprojo Lou Silver Harrison...
and William Colvig
William Colvig
William Colvig was an electrician and amateur musician who was the partner for 33 years of composer Lou Harrison, whom he met in San Francisco, California in 1967...
built a set of tuned percussion instruments that they call "an American gamelan" in order to differentiate it from Indonesian ensembles. These are now referred to as "Old Granddad," and Harrison wrote some pieces that can only be played on this set, such as La Koro Sutro. Lou Harrison spent some time with a Javanese gamelan in 1976 (when Kyai Udan Mas, now at the University of California, Berkeley, was in residence at San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
). This inspired him and his partner William Colvig
William Colvig
William Colvig was an electrician and amateur musician who was the partner for 33 years of composer Lou Harrison, whom he met in San Francisco, California in 1967...
to build a gamelan modelled specifically on Udan Mas (in instrumentation, although not in tuning). For this he used aluminum primarily, although the "great gong" was eventually fashioned out of iron.
Colvig and Harrison built two large "double" gamelan (meaning that there were instruments in both the pelog and slendro tunings). The first was Si Betty, named for the financial benefactor Betty Freeman
Betty Freeman
Betty Wishnick-Freeman was an American philanthropist and photographer. Freeman was born in Chicago, Illinois. At the age of three she moved with her parents and two brothers to Brooklyn, attending high school in New Rochelle, New York...
. Si Betty was bequeathed to Jody Diamond
Jody Diamond
Jody Diamond is an American composer, performer, writer, publisher, editor, and educator. She specializes in traditional and new music for Indonesian gamelan and is active internationally as a scholar, performer, and publisher.-Biography:She received a B.A. from the University of California,...
, and is now in residence at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. The second was named "Si Darius/Si Madeleine" after Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud was a French composer and teacher. He was a member of Les Six—also known as The Group of Six—and one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. His compositions are influenced by jazz and make use of polytonality...
and his wife, because it was while holding the Milhaud chair at Mills College
Mills College
Mills College is an independent liberal arts women's college founded in 1852 that offers bachelor's degrees to women and graduate degrees and certificates to women and men. Located in Oakland, California, Mills was the first women's college west of the Rockies. The institution was initially founded...
(where the gamelan still resides) that Harrison and Colvig had the support for its construction; a group there (as of 2008) is directed by Daniel Schmidt. Lou Harrison
Lou Harrison
Lou Silver Harrison was an American composer. He was a student of Henry Cowell, Arnold Schoenberg, and K. P. H. Notoprojo Lou Silver Harrison (May 14, 1917 – February 2, 2003) was an American composer. He was a student of Henry Cowell, Arnold Schoenberg, and K. P. H. Notoprojo Lou Silver Harrison...
was well known for his compositions for gamelan; he was particularly adept at combining western instruments with his Javanese-style gamelan ensemble. (The scores for all of his gamelan works are published by the American Gamelan Institute
American Gamelan Institute
The is an organization devoted to promoting and documenting all forms of gamelan, the performing arts of Indonesia, and their international counterparts....
).
External links
- List of gamelan ensembles in the United States at GamelanWiki.org
- United States gamelan directory, hosted by the American Gamelan Institute
- The Mills College Gamelan Si Darius and Si Madeleine Instrument design and construction by Lou Harrison, William Colvig, and Mills students in 1981]
Listening
- New Music America 1981: A Concert of New Gamelan Music (June 13, 1981)
- A New Gamelan, audio recording of Lou HarrisonLou HarrisonLou Silver Harrison was an American composer. He was a student of Henry Cowell, Arnold Schoenberg, and K. P. H. Notoprojo Lou Silver Harrison (May 14, 1917 – February 2, 2003) was an American composer. He was a student of Henry Cowell, Arnold Schoenberg, and K. P. H. Notoprojo Lou Silver Harrison...
and William ColvigWilliam ColvigWilliam Colvig was an electrician and amateur musician who was the partner for 33 years of composer Lou Harrison, whom he met in San Francisco, California in 1967...
describing the theory and construction of one of the first American Gamelans, followed by a performance on it (free registration required at RadiOM) - A multimedia slideshow of Gamelan Si Betty at Harvard University