Gamelan Pura Paku Alaman

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Gamelan Pura Paku Alaman · The gamelan of the Pura Paku Alaman is the court orchestra of the court of Paku Alaman in Yogyakarta, on Java in Indonesia. It is a heirloom: the instruments were made in 1755 for Paku Alam I. The gamelan consists of two halves. The sléndro half is called Kyai Pengawé Sari, which means Lord Invitation to Beauty. The pélog half is called Kyai Telaga Muntjar, Lord Lake and Fountain. Sléndro and pélog are the two tunings of the Javanese gamelan.

Music and breakthrough

The ethnomusicologist Robert E. Brown recorded the orchestra on 10 January 1971 in the reception hall of the court, with the permission of Paku Alam VIII, for a radio broadcast in honour of his birthday. The recording was released on LP that same year under the title Javanese Court Gamelan and appeared on CD in 1991. In 2003 it was reissued as Java: Court Gamelan. K.R.T. Wasitodiningrat led the orchestra, and the singers Nyi Djiworetno, Niken Larasati and Nyi Tasri sang along. The sounds of sparrows nesting in the hall can be heard on the recording and are considered normal.

Influence

The recording became known worldwide because Ketawang Puspawarna was included on the Voyager Golden Record, the disc that travelled into space with the Voyager probes. In 1972 the album was nominated for a Grammy for best ethnic or traditional folk recording.

Listening