chad bailey nielson | gender cirebon

These are images from my recent trip to Cirebon with Richard North. One of our main objectives on this trip was to document Gender Cirebon. In Cirebon the Gender is played much differently than in Central Java or Bali. Unfortunately this beautiful style of Gender is dying out in Cirebon, and only a few people can still play it. Ibu Anggariwati, quite possibly the last Cirebon Gender player, has recently passed away. She can be seen in the top image to the left (click to enlarge). Gender Cirebon is also distinct visually, having a much taller stature and a smaller range (10 or 11 keys) than Central Javanese Gender, and with cast bronze end pieces and supports. Details of these can be seen in some of the images to the right.

I am working on transcribing recordings of Ibu Anggariwati, alm. Click on the 'PDF' below to download in .pdf format. Notation is currently in standard Central Javanese numbering and format.

Transcriptions of Gender Performance by Ibu Anggariwati, almarhum:
Lagu Monggang [PDF]

IMAGE INFORMATION (FROM TOP TO BOTTOM)

Ibu Anggariwati, playing a Gender at the Kraton Kecirebonan. This Gender was originally owned by Mang Sarip, and was left to Yusuf Dendabrata at the Kraton upon Mang Sarip's passing. The gentlemen at the bonang in the background is Dalang Kurnadi, the court dalang at Kraton Kecirebonan. You can also see a tiny bit of Richard North's face on the left side of the image.
A detail of the cast bronze naga end-pieces on Mang Sarip's Gender.
A detail of the cast bronze supports on Mang Sarip's Gender.
A detail of the base of Mang Sarip's Gender.
A Gender in the museum at Kraton Kasepuhan.
A Gender at the Kraton Kecirebonan.
A Gender, owned by Sultan Abdul Gani of Kraton Kecirebonan, in the process of being restored.
Not actually Cirebonese, this is a Sundanese Gender (!), that is part of a Gamelan Salendro at the Museum in Sumedang. Construction and range are identical to that of Cirebonese Gender.
A detail of the keys and supports on the Sundanese Gender.
This photo was not taken in Indonesia. This is a Cirebonese Gender in Santa Fe, NM. The keys, supports and end pieces for this Gender came to Santa Fe with Gamelan Ni Giwang, a 150 year set of instruments from Cirebon. The stand was built by myself using scrap wood from crates and ABS tubing for the resonators. The dimensions and construction of the frame are based on my measurements of Richard North's Cirebonese Gender.