Kraig's Javanese Recommendations

[Kraig to Bob:]
> One of the easiest to find is Javaese Court Gamelan. Electra
> nonesuch explorer series 972044-2 Which has singing that
> interpolates the larger intervals. The french label Ocora
> also has 4 volumes of Javanese music, but is probably harder
> to find.

Seconded. The Explorer CD is a great introduction and
was well recorded by Bob Brown, Director of the Center
for World Music in San Diego. The recording dates from
1971 and the gamelan was directed by Pak Chokro (K.R.T.
Wasitodinigrat).

For a great CD of Wasitodinigrat's lifetime body of
work (he is considered by many to be the greatest
living Javanese composer), do not miss "The Music of
K.R.T. Wasitodinigrat preformed by Gamelan Sekar
Tunjung" - released in 1992 on CMP Records, CMP CD
3007. I heard the first track being played in a
'Chinatown' scene (!) on a TV crime show only last
week.

- Jeff