Dances to lull the senses - The Gamelan

Ten years ago, I was a busy executive stressed out from incessant work and frustrated that my writing career had not taken off. Irani was just born, Iman and Inas just started school. We turned to theatre and music. Iman took piano lessons, Inas, the violin and I joined a gamelan class at the Actors Studio Academy.

We learnt traditional gamelan songs like Timang Burung, Togok, Lambang Sari and more. These were classic slow paced soothing music. Three years later, I joined the GiS gamelan group under the patronage of Angela Hijaz and we learned the Balinese gamelan at her celebrated estate Rimbun Dahan under the strict and watchful eyes of a Javanese Master, Pak Wayan. The gamelan was fast paced and more intricate. My daughter Iman joined the orchestra as well. Inas took the opportunity to continue her violin lessons with Pak Samsuddin Lamin who stayed nearby. Needless to say, those were lovely days.

The Gamelan Pahang of Malaysia originated from the Riau Lingga courts. A Lingga princess brought with her the full set of the gamelan orchestra when she was presented as a bride to the Pahang prince in 1811. The original set is kept at the Royal Museum in Pekan Pahang. In time, Tengku Mariam Sultan Ahmad took the gamelan to Terengganu in the early 1900s. There used to be 77 songs, faithfully recorded by the Pahang princess before she became the Sultanah of Terengganu. Now, less than 40 survive. As for the accompanying dances, less than 10 are actively performed.

This dance and song is the Lambang Sari which is an ode to the Malay princesses of old.

Lambang Sari, gak puteri

Terlindung dari pandangan

Indah gerak tari puteri

Bagai di dalam kayangan

Inilah lagu Lambang Sari

Damai di taman larangan

Nasi di hidang, sanggul di cucuk

Tapi apakan daya impian

Hati sayang diri berkecamuk

Nusantara berbelah bagi

Raja dan Sultan bermuafakat

Puteri ditugaskan pergi

Negeri berdamai, janji terikat

Gak Puteri membakar diri

Lambang Sari - The Song of The Princess

Hiding from mortal gaze

Swaying to the gentle breeze

Princesses at rest and play

Bewitching music of bamboo reeds

Enchanted garden, their sanctuary

A charmed life of royal proportions

Yet many trapped deep within

Yearning for her heart's desires

The peace of the land their charge

To be presented to her new liege

As bride, with accompanying entourage

With gifts and a silver box of betel leaves

Like a candle in the wind

Giving light, yet burning within

Finally I found a worthy recording of the dance Timang Burung, one of the most enchanting aand recognizable gamelan classic. The dancers are young but their subtle and precise form and movement promise the continuance of this art. Their movements depict that of a playful bird the princess Raden Galuh found on the beach.

Timang Burung

Raden Galuh eloknya puteri
Terkenal seluruh Nusantara
Cintanya pada Raden Inu Kertapati

Sehidup semati kiranya

Bila asyik rindu rinduan

Turun puteri bermain dipantai

Dapat seekor burung idaman

Bermain dia lemah gemalai

Menari inang menari nari

Dari pagi hingga ke petang

Cantik puteri berseri seri

Dari dulu hingga sekarang

The princess pined for her prince

Danced on the beach to sooth her heart

A bird of paradise had her bewitched

She swore they would never part

The next song is a classic recording of the dance and song Kunang Kunang Mabuk from the 1980s by the group SUKTRA of Terengganu Darul Iman. Pls ignore the first few irritating seconds...

Kunang Kunang Mabuk (Dazed Fireflies)

Bewitched by moonlight

The Firefly dances

Til it is time for flight

To meet the enchantress

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My gamelan class at Actors Studio - Haris, Keiko, myself, Ana, Suchin, Maya and Candice with teachers from The Gamelan Club Susan, Gillian,Shahanum, Wai Fan, Engu and Datuk Faridah Merican.

Mum and Grandmother with Iman, Inas and Irani attended the graduation performance.

Poetry Copyright@2010 ninotaziz