Author Question: Discuss the general structure of a Javanese gamelan composition (gendhing) in performance, including ... (Read 131 times)

geoffrey · **on:** Jul 25, 2018

Discuss the general structure of a Javanese gamelan composition (gendhing) in performance, including major phrase units, main melody, punctuation, subdividing the beat, coinciding, and melodic elaboration.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

This music features

a. melody, percussion, and filling in.
b. small gamelan instruments.
c. lack of musical coherence.
d. sudden bursts of chordal harmony.

nyrave · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANSWER:
Answers will vary.

The major phrase is the basic time and melodic unit. It is marked off by the sound of a large gong and measured in beats of the main melody.
The gamelan texture is filled in with layers of punctuating patterns that subdivide the beat in various ways, interlock with each other, and sometimes coincide with each other.
The basic melody is frequently elaborated by different instruments simultaneously playing variations of the basic melody at different tempi.

Answer to Question 2

ANSWER:
a