Playing gender

Basic playing techniques for Javanese gender

Category:

Music

Tags:

• gamelan
• music
• Javanese
• gender
• instruments

[Huffer7]

I think the problem with this rolling of the wrist is that sometimes, especially when playing fast, a note will end up being damped at the same time as the next one is hit - and this makes a difference in the sound. See the video by Sumarsam to see how the hand stays parallel to the floor.

[SiKedek]

Well, my gender teachers were from Solo, so go figure...

[Timbul53525253]

That makes more sense. I take it Bodemiller is not a native English speaker, which could explain why I had difficulty getting it.

I honestly don't recall any of my gender teachers in Yogya ever mentioning wrist-rolling as an issue, btw.

[SiKedek]

I think I understand what bodemiller is saying - the player here rolls her right wrist slightly rather than keeping the underside of the wrist parallel to the floor. Many gender experts say this is a bad habit to have - I was trained this way as well.

[Timbul53525253]

I don't understand what you mean. You *have* to move your wrist on the l.h. or you can't damp properly!

[Alwongayem]

Wow ... I am impressed. I am also a Javanese gamelan player but so impressed with a foreigner mastering gender quite perfectly. Thanks for posting.