Audio Examples
To sample the various genres of Sundanese music performed by Sekar Enggal, download any of these mp3 audio files – they are all extracts from live performances.
Tracks 1-4, 6 recorded at Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon, 6 July 2002. Track 5 recorded at Royal Holloway, University of London , 20 October 2001.
1. gamelan degung: JIPANG LONTANG
A traditional opening piece from the aristocratic degung klasik repertoire, based on an instrumental framework of two notes (roughly C and Eb), each marked by the gong. It accompanies Tepang Asih, a song of welcome.
2. gamelan degung: DUDA
This arrangement, by Koestyara, of a traditional degung klasik melody, became popular through the radio and cassette industries about twenty years ago. "Duda" means either "widower" or "(male) divorcee", a marital status which gives rise to ribald nudging and winking in Sundanese society.
3. gamelan degung (sorog): SEKAR MANIS
The title of this classic song by the famous singer Nyi Mas Saodah, means "Sweet Flower". It here accompanies the puppet Emban Geulis, court dancer. The first verse of the text means:
Pretty as the jasmine
in the pleasure gardens
the sweet scent
of the lovely daughters of Mantili
4. gamelan salendro: KULU-KULU GANCANG
Kulu-Kulu is based on a framework of just two notes, about a fourth apart. Again, the vocal and rebab melodies often diverge from the gamelan tuning. This type of piece is very commonly used to accompany wayang.
5. kacapi suling: ARANG-ARANG
Arang-arang is an instrumental prelude normally linked to a mamaos song. Here, instead of a song, the suling plays two Landangan (solo melodies) contrasting the long and short models: suling tembang and suling degung.
6. tembang Sunda: SEKAR DUAAN
This song of farewell is based on an instrumental framework of three different pitches (roughly F-C-G-C-F...).