Guide to Sundanese Music - Free EBooks Library

PANAMBIH TEMBANG SUNDA: KACAPI INDUNG
In the above transcriptions, most of the p^ncer are pivotal notes within a
pattern: in other words, the right hand thumb plays the same note before and
after the pancer. In two instances, however (the first pancer in Kulu-kulu
1 wilet, and the third in 4 wilet), the pancer acts as a pivotal note
between patterns: in other words, the right hand thumb plays a different
note before and after the pancer. Van Zanten calls this second type "pancer
hiasan" . It can be compared to the pancer played in passing by the bonang
when changing note in kemprangan. The decision by the kacapi indung player
whether or not to play a pancer of this type is partly dependent on the
nature of the vocal melody at that point. Thus, for instance, the common
sekar alit Catrik, with the patokan 2 (5) , is generally played with the
pancer notes 3 and 1 in between patterns:
Catrik 2 wilet
//
. 5 22. 22.2,55 5 5 22.^5 2 3
pancer "goong"
.53 53.
. { . . > . i
5 3 .5.53 5 2
2 5 2.
5 2 5 2 5 2 5 3 2 5 2 5
5.5.5.5. 5.5.5.5.
>N
.S. § 5 .§. § 5
.5. 5 .L^h t 1
pancer
H si.
"goong"
§ i .S.M 3 t
5 3 5.
2 5 2 5 2 5 2 1 5 3 5 3
5.5.5.5.
>G
This sekar alit is used to accompany the panambih melody Panglipur. At the
third repetition of the accompaniment, Pa Uking told me to play without the
pancer, beginning thus:
Catrik 2 wilet beginning without pancer (3rd cycle of Panglipur)
. 5 i H
.
5 i .§.§i S S
5 3 5.
"goong" "goong"
. !
5 3 h 3 .
5 h .Lhh 5 k
2 5 2.
5 3 5 3
2 5 2 5
0*0*DaO« 0.0.0.0.
>N
However, it would not be wrong to play in the normal way with the pancer
between patterns throughout.
In general, kacapi indung players have much more latitude to bend the patokan
structure than gamelan musicians do, because they are in sole control of the
musical structure. Many singers have little regard for the musical structure
of the accompaniment: if a gelenyu (or instrumental interlude) feels to them
too long, they will ask for it to be shortened, even if this results in a
Unfortunately this term is not in common use:
useful if it were.
93
it would be very
etc.