Sunda - Musiques savantes

Java - Pays Sunda / Tembang Sunda
Musiques savantes - Musique et chants classiques
Uking Sukri, et al.
Ocora (Radio France) C 580064
Ocora (Radio France) C 583064

Contents:

  1. Beber Layar ("Deployer Les Voiles") Et Kembang Bungur ("Fleure De L'Arbre Bungur")
  2. Palwa et Lalayaran ("Promenade En Voilier")
  3. Rancag: Pancaniti Bayubud Mangari, Liwung
    Kawih: Sumarambah ("Couer Empli De Souvenirs")
  4. Rancag: Bayubud, Liwung
    Kawih: Bungur ("L'arbre Bungur")
  5. Rancag: Panyawang ("Repos A Ciel Ouvert"), Pamekaran ("Epanouissement")
    Kawih: Samar-samar ("Images Estompees")
  6. Sinyur Samarangan ("Selon Ses Desirs")
  7. Rancag: Lor-loran Erang Baron
    Kawih: Tablo

Performers: Uking Sukri (kacapi indung), Burhan Sukarna (suling), Ajan Warjan (rincik), Ono Sukarna (suling); Dadang Purnaman (kacapi indung), Ida Ahman (suling), Dodi Suriadi (rincik), Dasep Eddi (rebab), Dedeh Djubaedah (female singer), Suwardi (male singer), Apung S. Wiratmadja (male singer), Nyi Eros (female singer), Enong Jubaedah (female singer), Mang Maman (male singer); Musicians of Bandung

Playing time: 72'

Recording dates: 1972, 1973, 1974; released as present compilation: 1995, 2021

This recording (compilation) first appeared right around the peak of this project, but I don't really remember it.... Presumably I didn't include it at the time both because I wasn't focusing on Sunda (Western Java) specifically & because the "zither" (kacapi indung & rincik) reductions of gamelan to strings is clearly a modernization.

However, with the reissue, I've become rather taken with the sound of reducing a gamelan to two zithers (at lower & higher pitches, respectively), and especially in the first two tracks here with the suling flute functioning as a kind of virtuosic vocal part. I'm actually finding the flute tracks more compelling here than the voice tracks.

And then this gamelan-on-zither format seems quite relevant to contemporary music-making, so I guess my attitude on that has changed entirely.... There's no question that at least some of these tracks are "special" within what is (or was?) a very large performance scene ("Tembang Sunda"), particularly given the practicality of a trio format (with more/different musicians on some tracks...) like this....

Finally, as implied, it's unlikely I'll be pursuing this repertory more extensively, but did want belatedly to note this album (compiled from LPs) within the very substantial Indonesian discography from Ocora....

To purchasing information for this disc.

To Southeast Asian music intro.

T. M. McComb