An old LP sleeve versus a new CD. Euis Komariah.
Euis Komariah + Yus Wiradiredja with Jugala Orchestra and Pateraman Dasentra- The Sound Of Sunda
(Indonesia/Java) part 1
Today in Record up Your Sleeve, part 1 of the mini special around Euis Komariah. The famous Globestyle label released two long players by her in 1990 that are both no longer available these days. High time therefore to brush up part of her musical heritage. Because this is of a miraculous, revolutionary beauty, I’m sure you’ll agree with me on that after tonight.
Her golden throat produces undulating sounds sung in Sundanese where we can well-nigh completely vanish into. Its extreme beauty is so remarkably fragile that it seems we have ended up in Paradise and Ms Komariah is the enlightened soul leading us to the all-embracing light past the threatening, frightening darkness. This music is like an unconditional loving embrace.
“Deep feeling of love. We part on the corner, we wave goodbye. As I walk away I still hear the whispering of love in my ears. We will meet again. It is good.” From the last song “Dalingding Asih" on this LP.
The style in which Euis Komariah sings, together with Yus Wiradiredja, and in which the Jugala Orchestra and the Pateraman Dasentra group plays is called degung or dedegungan. The roots of this style from Java lie in the ancient gamelan tradition. However, the gamelan style lives it up in inflaming, rhytmic, dazzling exuberance, while the degung reflects inwards to meditate the melancholy of love in all its sweet and painful aspects. With dream-like vocals, subtle gamelan percussion and the soothing mind-expanding sound of the bamboo flute.
I will leave it at that for now, on 26 March more Euis Komariah in Record up Your Sleeve.
To conclude, you will hear two songs from the CD enclosed by the book “The Sound Of The Ancestral Ship, Highland Music Of West Java”, written by Sean Williams. The penultimate song of this broadcast is “Polos”, sung by Euis Komariah and finally “Narangtang/Papatet/Pangapungan/Lembur Singkur” with Dadang Suleiman and Tintin Suparyani on vocals.
