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| Title |
Composer(s) |
Performer(s) |
Length |
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| Naked We Stand |
David Simons
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Gamelan Son of Lion
|
5:57 |
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| She (really) Had To Go |
John Morton
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Gamelan Son of Lion
|
9:23 |
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| Jigalullaby |
Barbara Benary
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Gamelan Son of Lion
|
8:22 |
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| Music Box |
Jody Kruskal
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Gamelan Son of Lion
|
5:30 |
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| Bang on a Tin Can |
Laura Liben
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Gamelan Son of Lion
|
5:55 |
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| River Kotekan |
LIsa Karrer
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Gamelan Son of Lion
|
6:37 |
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| Telling Time |
Miguel Frasconi
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Gamelan Son of Lion
|
10:18 |
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| 9-11: A Memorial Suite |
Gamelan Son of Lion
|
Gamelan Son of Lion
|
18:34 |
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| Kacapi |
LIsa Karrer
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Gamelan Son of Lion
|
6:27 |
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| Descarga Elizabeth |
David Demnitz
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Gamelan Son of Lion
|
7:28 |
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| Sad/Happy |
Daniel Goode
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Gamelan Son of Lion
|
10:25 |
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| Traffic |
Laura Liben
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Gamelan Son of Lion
|
8:22 |
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| Gamelan Around |
Denman Maroney
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Gamelan Son of Lion
|
8:43 |
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Gamelan Son of Lion is a New York City based composers' collective and repertory ensemble exploring and expanding the variety of musical styles that may be performed using Javanese and Balinese percussion orchestra. The ensemble has performed around the greater New York area and on tours abroad since 1976.
This newest collection of compositions for gamelan features premiers from recent concert seasons as well as a scattering of old favorites from the past. Works by ten composer-performers of the ensemble are represented: Barbara Benary, David Demnitz, Miguel Frasconi, Daniel Goode, Lisa Karrer, Jody Kruskal, Laura Liben, Denman Maroney, John Morton and David Simons.
The Indonesian Gamelan is based on a core group of metallophones (gongs and keyboards) in the traditional Javanese/Balinese tunings slendro and pelog, supplemented by gongs and drums. To the beautiful sound of the metallophones many other sounds can be added according to the composer's inspiration. On this CD, in addition to the core gamelan sound, are electronically processed music boxes in Morton's "She (really) Had To Go" and glass instruments in Frasconi's "Telling Time," Scottish fiddle and Gaelic song in Benary's "Jigalullaby," and a hypnotic kaleidoscope of world music strings, winds and vocal styles in Karrer's "Kacapi."
Special among the works is "Nine-Eleven: A Memorial Suite," a collective tribute to those who lived through that disaster, and those who did not. Co-composed by five gamelan members shortly after the event, the suite builds on a song by Benary with variations and settings as well as contrasting digressions by Goode, Liben, Simons and Demnitz.
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KFJC programming notes
As the name suggests, herein lie 2 CDs containing nearly 2 hours of gamelan music–not one minute of which is boring! How a collective of composers (including Denman Maroney, Barbara Benary, Laura Liben, and Daniel Goode, among many others) based in New York City manage to create innovative, fresh sounds for the traditional Indonesian gamelan percussion instruments is nothing less than miraculous and beautiful. The liner notes are fascinating and crucial to a full appreciation of each song. Disc I, Track 2 has a musicbox version of the Beatles’ “Yesterday.” Disc I, Track 5 features tin cans, while Disc I, Track 7 uses glass. Disc II, Tracks 1-7 contain a tribute to 9-11, and the last track gives you a happy klezmer ending with clarinet and gamelan. You have to sample it for yourself to believe it.
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by
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American Record Guide
Intricate rhythms and shifting time signatures are a given; but Scottish lullabies, flutes, clarinets, and a memorial suite to September 11th keep the program fresh.
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by Lamper
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The Wire
........the variations worked by individual ensemble members are absolutely fascinating in their thoughtfulness and simplicity of expression.
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by Brian Morton
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Music Web International
This is inventive and ear-stimulating stuff from composers happy to use gamelan and not necessarily to be limited by its ancient rules and conventions.
......not for gamelan purists unless they are on an adventure holiday.
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by Rob Barnett
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