The Javanese Gamelan Ensemble exhibited in the video below uses colotomic meter. Colotomic meter means that one or more instruments in the ensemble, usually the pitched gongs, are assigned the musical role of keeping the tempo. Since the low gongs are in charge of keeping the tempo, the higher instruments must listen careful and play according to the beat given to them. In Western European Music, musicians are so often taught to master their own individual part to a specific tempo. Listening to others and playing together as an ensemble are not always stressed skills. In the Javanese Gamelan Ensemble, without listening to others and playing together, the piece would not be successful.
Singa Nebah (The Pouncing Lion) by Pelog Barang
Northern Illinois University School of Music
Indonesia
Javanese Gamelan Ensemble
Kellie,
ReplyDeleteDo think that instrument classification plays a role in how time is classified in Javanese music? Like most Western Art Music, a membranophone or bass voice instrument is generally used to keep time. Do you think this is true of Javanese music as well? I've found it interesting that many cultures have variations of scales and the distances between pitch in those scales, it makes me wonder if time is also as subjective a pitch?
Cortney, I do think instrument classification and time go hand in hand. As you said lower bass instruments are often used to keep time, and this is exactly how the Javanese music is composed. I believe this is because a lower bass instrument can be heard easily, also, bass instruments are usually a smidge behind the beat, as their sound travels slower than higher frequency pitches. With this in mind, it makes sense to make them the beat keepers. If the lower, slower sound keeps the beat, then everyone else is able to stay in time together.
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