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J. Simon van der Walt

Gamelan catalog

Mambo Java

20/1/98 for Pelog Gamelan & Flute

The pelog gamelan which we play on in Glasgow is in a tuning which is fairly close to western pitches, with the 5 being exactly equal to A 440;

1 = D
2 = Eb
3 = F
4 = G# (ish!)
5 = A
6 = Bb

This has allowed me to write several pieces using western instruments; so far we have used flugelhorn, flute, violas, and harmonium.

The idea of a piece fusing Latin grooves & gamelan was suggested to me by one of our group, Peter Kemp. It uses the bonangs to keep up a montuno-style riff while the gongs/slenthem play a bass line;

Bonangs             4.35  .3.6  .3.6  5.4.  4.25  .2.6  .2.6  5.4.
Gongs/slenthem   3) ....  3..7  ....  7..2  ....  2..6  ....  6..3
Over the top of this is a melody on flute & sarons, and a written-out flute solo. The drums play a transcription of a standard conga pattern, with the kethuk taking the cowbell part.

Sounds

MIDI demo

(68k; duration 4')

How this MIDI demo sounds is entirely up to your computer, and it may not play at all on some systems! On the plus side, its a very small file which will play the whole piece.


Notes

Duration 4'

Written for Naga Mas, the Glasgow Gamelan Group, and performed by them on a number of occasions.


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Created 18/2/01 Last modified 1/4/05