I was walking to work a few weeks ago when I came across this Javanese woman, dressed all in batik, playing and singing for money. I stopped to record and she told me the instrument was a sitar. It's smaller than the Indian kind and played in the lap instead of guitar-style. Despite these differences, I suspect it's a throwback to the old Javanese Hindu kingdoms of the 14th century.
While she was singing, a snack vendor (dumplings, I think) came by and added his own rhythm to the mix.
All I had on me was a 50,000 rupiah note (about $5 US) so I gave it to her. Then she chased me down the street trying to sell me the sitar.
7 comments:
wow, that's great. do you know what she was singing about? it sounded beautiful and a bit haunting.
nice video...
I would have called that a kacapi, but that's the Sundanese word for it... I don't know what it is in Javanese...
The Indonesian wikipedia page on Sitar is unhelpful...
Do you have one, John?
This much I know, M: it's an old traditional Javanese love song. I need someone who knows Low Javanese to translate it, and so far everyone I've asked speaks High Javanese. I'm sure I'll find someone sufficiently low soon, though, haha ...
I've got the Sundanese version which looks kind of similar, but is tuned differently and is played a bit more like a pedal steel (except without a steel and both hands are picking). Whereas this one is played with thumbpicks.
Hmmm, ah, here you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_T17sv1JYY&feature=related
On the meaning, from 'ora' ('no' in low Javanese, I think high Javanese is 'boten') I can verify that it is indeed low Javanese, but that's all I can make out...
Do you know Wiwid from frisbee? He could easily translate it for you. I'll introduce you on Facebook.
Thanks!
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