Pélog, Slèndro, Chromaticism

On the tuning of Javanese and Western ‘orchestras’ and their compatibility in Linda Bandara's compositions

Linda Bandara (1881–1960), who grew up partly in Java and was deeply moved by the gamelan music there throughout her life, was regarded as the first European to combine Javanese gamelan music and Western orchestra in her compositions. As a pianist, she naturally realised many traditional pieces for piano and voice, but also created orchestral works that were even performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra at the Musikverein (1922). It is easy to imagine that her two large hanging humpback gongs, which she bequeathed to the Vienna State Opera, were also used there in Wagner's ‘Parsival’ in the same year. But what about the orchestral works in which gamelan instruments were also played, which she had specially built in Java in Western tuning and are now kept in the Weltmuseum Wien? Although gamelan instruments are tuned to a specific scale (pèlog, slèndro), they have neither a standardised interval structure nor a universally valid ‘concert pitch’. They are only tuned to each other in an ensemble and therefore cannot usually ‘play together’ with other ensembles.

In addition, the sound spectrum is very rich in overtones, which is hardly compatible with Western harmony music. This problem has been known since that time. With explanations of the scales and tuning types of gamelan instruments and sound examples of various ‘crossovers’, the lecture gets to the bottom of this topic.

Dr András Varsányi born 1953 in Budapest, living in Munich since 1957, trained as a classical percussionist (1979 Munich Music Academy master class Prof. Karl Peinkofer), since 1977 extended study visits to Bali and Java (Indonesia) to study the music of the gamelans; 1980 foundation of the gamelan group CARA BALI in Munich. 2000 Doctorate in Tübingen on instrument making (Gong ageng – gong making on Java); teaching assignments and guest professorships at several universities. Since 1983 at the Munich City Museum in the music collection (director since 2009), 1987 acquisition of a large Javanese gamelan (pèlog-slèndro), 2004–2009 professor for ‘Music of other cultures’ at the Münster University of Music, 2018 major international gamelan festival in Munich (‘Indonesia#Bronze.Bamboo.Beats’), retirement.

An event of the Weltmuseum Wien Friends. The Weltmuseum Wien Friends association offers a variety of advanced events to all those interested in the Weltmuseum Wien, such as object discussions, special guided tours, excursions as well as film and photo lectures.

Duration: 45 min.
The lecture is free of charge (valid museum ticket required, free entrance for members of the Weltmuseum Wien Friends)
Registration: friends@weltmuseumwien.at   
Meeting point: WMW Forum