About Indonesian Gamelan
Bush Beats Gamelan (You Can Too!)
A gamelan is an Indonesian ensemble normally composed primarily of
percussion. These orchestras typically include tuned gongs, bronze
kettles, bronze metallophones, bamboo xylophones, drums, cymbals,
flutes, and bowed string instruments.
While the music itself is
complex, some of the instruments do not require a great deal of
technique to play, as President Bush found out in his November 16
visit to Singapore, in which he was treated to a performance of Asian
fusion (“coincidentally” the name of Ancient Future’s sixth CD, Asian
Fusion) music by a group called “Gamelan Asmaradana.” The musicians
played a classical Javanese piece and a Singapore folk song. Invited
to play himself, Bush kneeled on the carpet, beat the saron (a
metallophone) with a rubber mallet for a time, and then said: “I’m
going to quit while I’m ahead.”
However, this is one area where he should be encouraged to stay the
course rather than to cut and run. After all, his first performance
was greeted with applause by the members of the gamelan orchestra. It
is as if all the success that was predicted for his Iraq invasion is
now coming true for him in the wonderful world of gamelan.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/061116/481/sgpd11311160550 (See President Bush Play)
Balinese Gamelan
These exercises are examples from Balinese gamelan music. In Bali,
orchestras of tuned gongs, bronze kettles, bronze metallophones,
bamboo xylophones, drums, cymbals and flutes fill the night air with
animated music. Melodic parts interlock, divided in such a way that
musicians play alternate notes to form the melody line. These
interlocking parts, known as kotèkan, require cooperation and a keen
sense of rhythm to perform.
Knowledge of kotèkan can be extremely valuable. These interlocking
rhythms have a unique way of bringing people together in cooperation
towards a common goal, which President Bush could certainly benefit
from. Some critics of his policies have said they would like to send
him to Mars, and indeed he has proposed going there. But this seems a
drastic and expensive solution, particularly considering that a music
sabbatical to Bali for the purpose of studying these wonderful
interlocking parts could have a profound effect on his international
diplomacy skills. He has already shown some interest. This could be a
true hidden talent just waiting to come out.
The two parts of a kotèkan, which are thought of as male and female,
are known as nyangsih and polos. The main accents of the male nyangsih
part are usually on the offbeat, while the main accents of the female
polos part are usually on the beat. The male instruments are slightly
higher in pitch to produce a chorusing effect. There is no
interlocking between the male instruments or the female instruments,
only between the male and female instruments. This should fit in well
with Bush’s philosophy of the sanctity of heterosexual marriage. In
all of the standard Western music notation examples below, the polos
(female) is on the bottom staff while the nyangsih (male) part is on
the top.
Kotèkan Types
These examples are from Ancient Traditions — Future Possibilities:,
Chapter 2, Exercise II, page 49. There are four types of melodic
kotèkans recognized in North Bali: chandetan, tutugan, ochètan, and
semi- ochètan.
Chandetan http://www.ancient-future.com/images/chandetan.gif (See sheet music)
The chandetan is an alternating rhythm in which the nyangsih melody
differs from the polos. This might be considered the musical
equivalent of a partisan showcase, but where the result still works to
the benefit of all.
http://www.jukeboxalive.com/audio_play_offsite.php?mid=580230&skin=329644 (Play Chandetan)
Tutugan http://www.ancient-future.com/images/tutugan.gif (See sheet music)
The tutugan is an alternating rhythm in which the nyangsih melody
follows the polos. This might be the musical equivalent of what Bush
is hoping for in bipartisan cooperation.
http://www.jukeboxalive.com/audio_play_offsite.php?mid=580232&skin=329644 (Play Tutugan)
Ochètan http://www.ancient-future.com/images/ochetan.gif (See sheet music)
The ochètan is an interlocking rhythm in which two separate voices are
created where the parts meet. This is likely the musical equivalent of
what the Democrats hope for in bipartisan cooperation:
http://www.jukeboxalive.com/audio_play_offsite.php?mid=580236&skin=329644 (Play Ochètan)
Semi-Ochètan http://www.ancient-future.com/images/semiochetan.gif (See sheet music)
The semi-ochètan is an interlocking rhythm in which the parts meet on
a unison, which is probably the musical equivalent of what voters hope
for in bipartisan cooperation:
http://www.jukeboxalive.com/audio_play_offsite.php?mid=580237&skin=329644 (Play Semi-Ochètan)
Gamelan Anklung http://www.ancient-future.com/images/anklung.gif (See sheet music)
The gamelan anklung is a four-tone ensemble that commonly accompanies
temple ceremonies. This is an intermediate level kotèkan from Ancient Traditions — Future Possibilities:, Chapter 2, Exercise III D, page 51:
http://www.jukeboxalive.com/audio_play_offsite.php?mid=580241&skin=329644 (Play Anklung)
This kotèkan was used as the basis for the composition Gamarock from
the Ancient Future release Dreamchaser.
http://www.jukeboxalive.com/player/cal_customaudio.php?sid=247536_1&user=ancientfuture_members (Play Gamarock)