Sindhen
Encyclopedia
A pesindhèn is a female solo singer who sings with a gamelan
. They may perform in unaccompanied music, dance, or wayang
performances.
The pesindhèn may sing together with a gerong
(male chorus), but their styles and words will be different. The part of the sindhen is largely improvised within strict parameters (similar to instrumental cengkok
). The sindhen is also allowed a much freer rhythm, similar to the rebab
and suling
, instead of the strict rhythm of the gerong.
Sindhen can also refer to the choir of male and female singers used to accompany the bedhaya
and serimpi court dances. In this usage, pesindhen refers to the individual members of the choir.
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....
. They may perform in unaccompanied music, dance, or wayang
Wayang
Wayang is a Javanese word for theatre . When the term is used to refer to kinds of puppet theatre, sometimes the puppet itself is referred to as wayang...
performances.
The pesindhèn may sing together with a gerong
Gerong
Gerong is the Javanese verb meaning "to sing in a chorus." Penggerong is the proper name of a member of the chorus, but often the word gerong is used to refer to the unison male chorus that sings with the gamelan. The chorus or the melody may also be called the gerongan.The gerong generally sings...
(male chorus), but their styles and words will be different. The part of the sindhen is largely improvised within strict parameters (similar to instrumental cengkok
Cengkok
Cengkok are patterns played by the elaborating instruments in the Javanese gamelan. Typically they are melodic patterns that lead to the seleh, following the rules of the pathet of the piece....
). The sindhen is also allowed a much freer rhythm, similar to the rebab
Rebab
The rebab , also rebap, rabab, rebeb, rababah, or al-rababa) is a type of string instrument so named no later than the 8th century and spread via Islamic trading routes over much of North Africa, the Middle East, parts of Europe, and the Far East...
and suling
Suling
A suling or Seruling is an Indonesian bamboo ring flute. It is used in gamelan ensembles.Depending on the regional genre, a suling can be tuned into different scales...
, instead of the strict rhythm of the gerong.
Sindhen can also refer to the choir of male and female singers used to accompany the bedhaya
Bedhaya
The bedhaya is a sacred ritualized dance of Java, Indonesia, associated with the royal palaces of Yogyakarta and Surakarta...
and serimpi court dances. In this usage, pesindhen refers to the individual members of the choir.