Gamelan in Modern Indonesia

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

120 hours

None

N/A

N/A

Not available to BMus students

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit.

This subject explores the gong/chime cultures of Southeast Asia by focusing on the percussion-based practice of the Central Javanese orchestra or gamelan. Featuring hanging bronze gongs, deep resonant drums and interlocking melodies played on smaller gongs and mallet percussion instruments, students will receive hands-on tuition in this unique form of orchestral music. By using the theoretical premise of music as social action, lectures focus on how traditional gamelan thrives in modern-day Indonesia as the music transforms and changes in this rapidly modernizing archipelago.

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

• demonstrate through practice and in theoretical language a basic knowledge of the main principles, concepts and performance techniques of Javanese gamelan music, dance and theatre;
• demonstrate their ability to work cooperatively as a member of the gamelan;
• realise in practice various forms of interdependent musical parts;
• perform an excerpt from the repertoire of the Javanese shadow puppet theatre;
• demonstrate an understanding of terminology, and the cultural, historical and socio-political contexts of gamelan performing arts; and
• cultivate aurally-based performance skills on the gamelan through ensemble rehearsal and performance;
• develop an understanding of alternate modes of learning and teaching in an oral tradition of music

Attendance and active participation in all rehearsals and performances throughout the semester (50%); A one hour written exam during the examination period (30%); A thirty-minute listening test during week 11 (20%).

In order to pass the subject, students must attend and participate in all ensemble rehearsals and performances during the semester, as directed. Less than 80% attendance will result in a fail.

Readings will be available online through the LMS before the commencement of the semester.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

• demonstrate an openness to diverse musical forms and culture connected to musics of the world and specifically Indonesian gamelan;
• make informed critical responses to academic discourse on music and modernity and musical continuity and change;
• demonstrate skills in cooperation, communication and negotiation that allow for effective working in teams; and
• communicate their ideas about music in its sociocultural context