Java: Court Gamelan, Vol. 3

Ironically, the third and last album of the Nonesuch Java Gamelan series is also the most accessible. The pieces are of relatively shorter duration here (except No. 5), and liner notes are the best-written of all three albums in the series. Minimalistic music with an eerie, piercing quality.

Track 1: Starts with the traditional thunking of bronze keys, then lovely flute work interwoven with distant wailing/chanting that gradually takes over the track.

Track 2: Starts the same way as #1, vox are more distant and dreamy.

*Track 3*: Medley of mettalophones and gongs produce a melody with alternately rising and falling tempo.

Track 4: Pipes, wailing vox, steady xylophone backdrop. Serene and haunting.

Track 5: Starts with chanting by male chorus, LONG track. Used as narrative to accompany traditional female “coming of age” dance.

Track 6: Short piece, heavy thunking of metallophone keys. Played as the emperor exits the gammelan.