Street Music of Central Java (side A)

The liner notes of Street Music of Central Java (1976) do a nice job of explaining the differences between this street music (siteran) and the gamelan music of the courts that is better known to Westerners. Siteran is sparser and more folk-like, with prominent wailing, otherworldly vocals. The structures are looser and and perhaps more song-like. There are definite similarities both rhythmically and in the scales used. Street Music of Central Java nicely captures these performers with primitive but very competent fidelity.