Guide to Sundanese Music - Free EBooks Library

GAMELAN SAL:gNDRO/P]gLOG : SARON
Other examples are found in Bendrong, Senggot and Angle. The ascendancy of
the female solo singer means that such variations are falling into disuse.
The emphasis is nowadays on providing her a smooth accompaniment, rather than
on interesting (and potentially distracting) instrumental techniques.
3.1.3 Other saron techniques: pangkat, takol lancar, ngamelodi, cacag
Pieces begin with a pangkat, or introductory phrase (equivalent to the
Javanese buka). In 1 wilet, it is nearly always played by the saron. In
2 wilet, it may be played by the saron, rebab or gambang. In 4 wilet it is
played by the rebab or gambang.
Many pieces have the same or very similar pangkat. It is not always
announced beforehand what piece is about to be played, particularly during a
wayang performance. For both these reasons, what is played by saron I
immediately after the goong is crucial for defining what the piece is. In
many pieces, the saron I player does not launch into caruk straight after the
Initial goong. Instead, saron I may play a melodic line based on the patokan.
This is sometimes called takol lancar.
Thus for instance, Kulu-kulu Bem (Kulu-kulu Gancang) 1 wilet may begin like
this:
G
pangkat saron: 3 12 13 14
I:
P P
1 3 1 41 1 3 1
II: 4.4.4.4 2 .
P P P G
1 3 1 2| 1 3 1 4|
2.2.2.2.12.2.4.4
The saron I part is based on the patokan notes 422 (4) or gNnG, with
the filler 1 3 1 x in between. 3/panelu is the pancer, and 1/barang is
the pangaget: a kind of pancer to the pancer, or pivot between the pivots.
Saron II reiterates the patokan notes on the off-beats. Representing the
pangaget as k for "kaget" (which means "taken aback"; "pangaget" is "that
which takes aback"), this gives us the following scheme:
I:
II:
P
k c N! k
P
c k
n
P
c
G
k Gl
In Kulu-kulu Barang, G = 1/barang; N = 4/bem; c = 5/singgul; k = 3/panelu
The piece begins
II: 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 . !1
pangkat saron:
P
P
5
41
5
4.4.4.4.4.4.1
Sometimes the takol lancar section is much freer melodically. Thus Gendu,
which has the patokan 1 (4) with the pancer 3, may begin like this:
34
P
G
1
1 .
G
11