Lolongkrang

Pusaka Sunda

In Indonesia, the word "pusaka" means "heirloom; a pusaka object serves its owner as a concrete symbol of authority, legitimacy, lineage, and succession. "Sunda" is the historical placename for the highlands of the western part of the island of Java in I ndonesia, the homeland of the Sundanese people. The Sundanese are patriotic Indonesians, but also look back to the medieval kingdom of Sunda and the Pajajaran Empire to define their identity.

When Sundanese musician and composer Burhan Sukarma formed a gamelan degung group in San Jose, California, he named it "Pusaka Sunda" (heirloom of Sunda). Burhan wanted to stress the connection of the group and the music it plays to his Sundanese homeland and to emphasize his belief that the group represents the inevitable flowering of Sundanese art which, despite the American heritage of many of its members, is nevertheless "khas Sunda" (truly Sundanese).

The Instruments

In its simplest form, degung includes the following instruments:
goong
a large hanging bronze gong with a deep, undulating sound
jengglong
set of small hanging bronze gongs
panerus
low-pitched multi-key bronze metallophone
peking
high-pitched multi-key bronze metallophone
bonang
v-shaped bronze gong chime
kendang
set of two-headed barrel drums
suling
4-hole bamboo whistle flute
Modern degung ensembles occasionally include auxiliary instruments; for example, the set of instruments heard on this recording also includes:

demung
multi-key bronze metallophone with a range between the peking and panerus
two sarons
7-key metallophones that play interlocking patterns
The instruments are tuned to a five-pitch scale called pelog degung; in western terms, the pitches of pelog degung, from high to low, are approximately G - F# - D - C - B.

Modern degung ensembles may also include extra bronze keys and pots that allow the ensemble to change its tuning to another Sundanese scale called sorog, which, in Western terms, is approximately C - B - G - F# - E. The new scale opens up new possibilities for repertory and arrangements. Two of the pieces on this recording, Bulan Sapasi and Gawil, are played in the sorog tuning.

The Pieces

1. Lolongkrang Burhan Sukarma arranged this new work using traditional and modern degung materials as well as parts derived from other genres of Sundanese music. The word "lolongkrang" means "a space between two things". The piece Lolongkrang describes a place between "war and peace" or "melancholy and joy".

2. Palsiun Palsiun is in the "classical" degung style, which is characterized by simple drumming, intense heterophony among the bronze instruments, and phrases (marked with strokes of the large gong) of irregular lengths.

3. Bulan Sapasi This song, composed by Sundanese innovator Gugum Gumbira, describes an evening lit by the half-moon.

4. Ujung Laut / Sinyur Ujung Laut is another piece in classical style; it is typical in modern performance practice to transition from a classical piece into a panambih ("extra piece") in which the bronze instruments play simple, stereotyped parts while the suling and saron players improvise.

5. Puloganti This modern composition's title means "changing island" and evokes the upheaval of the Indonesian revolution and independence.

6. Sorban Palid This popular song has been recorded in many arrangements; Pusaka Sunda's version is purely instrumental, featuring the expressive voice of the suling.

7. Mangari / Cirebonan Mangari is another piece in the classical style followed by a panambih.

8. Gawil Traditionally, Gawil is played on gamelan salendro to accompany a particular dance. Pusaka Sunda performs this piece in the sorog tuning and features elaborate kendang improvisations.

9. Mayaselas / Kaleran These two stately pieces provide a backdrop for florid suling improvisations and set a peaceful mood.

The Performers

Burhan Sukarma is first and foremost a viruoso on the suling (end-blown bamboo flute). As a soloist for the prestigious national radio station, RRI Bandung, on countless Indonesian recordings (many of which have been distributed internationally), and on tours to France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Saudi Arabi, Canada, and the United States, Burhan has expanded the suling's role as a solo instrument. His ability to make this simple instrument produce soulful, expressive melodic lines that speak across cultural boundaries has earned him an international reputation.

Undang Sumarna, the featured kendang virtuoso of Pusaka Sunda, is renowned for his Sundanese dance drumming. Undang learned the complex art of Sundanese dance drumming from his grandfather, the legendary Abah Kayat, in Bandung. Since 1974, Undang has taught gamelan at the University of California, Santa Cruz. During these years, he has introduced hundreds of American students to Sundanese music, as well as toured throughout the United States as an "Ambassador of Sundanese arts."

Pusaka Sunda was formed in 1988 by Burhan Sukarma and Rae Ann Stahl. Pusaka Sunda is dedicated to performing traditional and contemporary gamelan degung music. The members of Pusaka Sunda who perform on this recording are: Andrew Bouchard, Colleen Donovan, Daniel Kelley, Kenneth Miller, Henry Spiller, Rae Ann Stahl, Burhan Sukarma, Undang Sumarna, Linda Wegner, and Bill Welch.

(Notes by Henry Spiller and Rae Ann Stahl)

Ken Miller (jengglong@bookrat.com)