THE MICHIGAN DAILY
Page Five
THE MICHGAN DAILY Page Five
Javanese gamelan
provides
a s
By DIANE LEVICK
Whether you're a music stu-
dent or just a curious Westerner,
catch a Javanese gamelan per-
formance before you leave the
University. Hundreds who did so
Saturday night at Rackham will
most likely be back for more.
Under the direction of Prof. Ju-
dith Becker of the music school,
the University students in the
gamelan (a generic term for the
southeast Asian orchestra form)
normally accompany Javanese
shadow puppets. But Saturday
they backed up a special treat as
Urip Sri Maeny from Java danc-
ed several traditional pieces
from her island's culture.
Clothed colorfully and ornately,
she performed Tari Golek, a fe-
male dance which features slow,
subtle, delicate movements. Ges-
tures of the graceful hands ring-
ling with sashes, small steps with
iecial concert treat
bent knees, and head and neck
movements all combined to re-
flect the qualities that the culture
prizes in women: poise and ser-
enity.
Yet Urip Sri Maeny communi-
cated the opposite characteris-
tics just as effectively as she
portrayed a violent, demonic
king in Tari Klana Topeng. Wear-
ing a red mask signifying the
king's evil character, the dancer
presented a dance suite much
more dynamic than her first
piece. Her large, fast steps and
stance .with legs apart in a knee
dip seemed to represent power
and male self-assurance.
Meanwhile, her husband, also
from Java, participated in the
gamelan. Judith Becker's hus-
band, Prof. Alton Becker of the
linguistics department, played
the suling (flute) with the game-
Ian. He usually acts as dalang
(puppeteer) in the shadow pup-
pet plays.
The audience had a wide va-
riety of reactions to the game-
lan's music. Those uninterested
in the structural intricacies
found the music enjoyably relax-
ing,. probably due to the mellow
bronze instruments, especially
the largest gong.
It w-is very easy to just let the
gamelan music gently weave
around the mind and melt into
oblivion. On the other hand,
Judith Becker's helpful pro-
gram notes provided some clear
explanation of the music's com-
plexities.
The gong, for instance, was a
constant reminder of how dif-
ferent our musical system is
from Java's. Gamelan music is
based upon time cycles marked
off by the gong, whereas we
view music as flowing along a
linear time line.
As in many Eastern cultures,
music in Java is closely tied to
religion and the order of the
Universe, though in our society
music has become quite secu-
larized.
The music time cycles in Ja-
va are considered sacred, and
the gamelan must complete each
cycle. Failure to do so is seen
as blasphemy, provoking the
wrath of the gods. Even when
the gamelan instruments seem
to pause in a performance, the
players must continue to count
the time cycle they have begun.
While the audience could
amuse themselves by counting
out the time cycles Saturday
night, they could also study the
m-n exotic instruments in the
small, comfortable auditorium.
The g-melan included a variety
of xylophone - like instruments,
pot gongs, drums, flute, and
bowed fiddle.
The performers deserved the
standing ovation for giving the
audience a peak at a different
culture as well as a hell of an
unusual, entertaining evening
. . . and all for free.
A
R
T
S
i
Javanese gamielan
Daily Photo by STUART HOLLANDER
rs later
603 E. Liberty
I
DIAL 665-6290
PG
Hamlisch:
Three Osca
OPEN 12:45
SHOWS AT 1, 3,5,.7, 9 Q.m.
I
By MARY CAMPBELL
AP Music Writer
NEW YORK -- Marvin Ham-
lisch, who won three Oscars last
week for best song, best score
and best musical adaptation in
a movie, was having one of the
best days of his life.
He had come East clutching
one of the Oscars.
"I didn't hand it back. They're
probably hunting for me now,
but I've got them. I'll take them
to the Academy next week to
have them inscribed," he said.
He then taped two Mike Doug-
las Shows in Philadelphia and
was interviewed all evening.
"I came out of the studio and
there was a true mob waiting
for me. I went hysterical.
People said, .'Can I take your
picture?' I was ready to buy the
people film," he said, admitting
he liked to be recognized.
Hamlisch started arranging
songs and writing special mater-
ial for singer Liza Minnelli when
he was 18. She introduced him
to an off-Broadway musical di-
rector who went to Funny Girl
on Broadway and hired Ham-
lisch as rehearsal pianist and as-
sistant to the vocal arranger.
From the theater he went to
film, breaking in with producer
Sam Spiegel in a movie titled
The Swimmer.
Hamlisch thinks he's the first
person to win three Oscars on
one night. "Walt Disney probab-
ly did it, but he was a studio,"
he quipped.
Last Tuesday night, Hamlisch
won an Oscar for writing the
music for the best song, "The
Way We Were," from the movie
of the same name. Lyrics were
by Alan and Marilyn Bergman.
He also won
scores for The
and The Sting.
Oscars for his
Way We Were
Winning an Oscar was part of
his game plan, Hamlisch said.
"I have these five-year plans.
When I was 25 I wanted to two
things, became known in Cali-
fornia - I was a New Yorker
coming out - and win an Oscar.
I made it two months before I'm
30.
"Now between 30 and 35 I
want to get a musical out there
in the world, movie or Broad-
way. Even if it dies; I want to
know I got my crack at that
show - stopping number. Noth-
ing beats the thrill of the live
medium."
He 'said he has already writ-
ten one with George Furth, who
wrote Company and Twigs. The
working title is The End or In
Person.
ROBERT FLAKERTY'S4
LOUISIANA STORY (at 7:00) 1948
This fine documentary by the pioneer of the form (Nanook of the North) is a mov-
ing testament of the splendor of the delta everglades and the Creoles who live
there.4
F. W. MURNAU'S
SUNRISE (at 9:05 1927
This great German director came to Hollywood and made. this impressionistic and
somewhat experimental film of a country man torn between his love for his wife
and his desire for a city girl. It made Charles Farrell and Janet Goynor the most
celebrated couple of the silent screen.
CINEMA GUILD $1 Each Show ARCHITECTURE AUD.
"CONRACK"
ONE BEAUTIFUL MAN.
HIS STORY IS TRUE.
r
I
1
ACADEMY
AWARD
WINNER
--BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
INGMAR BERGMAN'S
"CRIES &
WHISPERS"
Sat- Sun., Wed. at
1, 3, 5, 7. 9
Mon. & Tues. 7 & 9 only
A~
Daily Photo by PAULINE LUBENS-
Utah in Michigan
U. Utah Phillips, the 'golden voice of the great Southwest,' per-
forms at the Ark last Friday night
SHOW TIMES
Mon.-Sat., 7:15 & 9:00
Sun., 5:30, 7:15, 9:00
WINNER OF
7 ACADEMY
AWARDS!
"TH E
STING" (PG)
DAILY OFFICIAL
BULLETIN
April 9, 1974
Day Calendar
Baseball: U-M vs. Toledo (2 games).
Fisher Stadium, 2 p.m
Future Worlds: J. Todd, "Alternative
Technologies," Hill Aud.. 2 p.m.
Physics: M. K. Gaillard, NAL & CERN
"Gauge Theories and Weak Decays,"
Rm. 2038. Randall Lab.. 4 p.m..,
Extension Service. English: poetry
reading, E. G. Burrows, Aud. 3, MLB,
4:10 p.m.
Psych. Film Series: "Masque of the
Red Death;" "What Man Shall Live and
Not See Death," Aud. 3. MLB, 4:30 p.m.
Modern Dance Class: Trotter House,
7 p.m.
American Culture Prog.: discussion.
railroads. mass transit. Sen. Hart's anti-
trust bill against auto makers. E. Conf.
Rm.. Rackham, 7:30 p.m.
Music School: Univ. Symphony Orch.,
T. Alcantara conducting, Hill Aud., 8
p.m.
MON.-TUES.
8:30 $2.50
BIFF ROSE
OPEN 1 p.m.
SHOWS at 1:30,
4 p.m., 6:30. & 9 p m.
H
Amommmallm
m
U El
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