2009

central Javanese gamelan (including frog toys), string quartet, Chinese sheng, rebab player, singer(s) - male or female

By:

• Helen Bowater

Duration:

06' 30"

Programme Note

Sun Wu Kong “Monkey” is a tribute to mentor and friend Jack Body. Jack invited me to write this piece for his retirement concert “Gong Crazy” during my term as Jack C Richards / Creative New Zealand Composer in Residence (2008-2009).

The title “Monkey” refers to the kecak rhythms of the Balinese monkey dance which permeate the score, also to the irrepressible spirit of Sun Wu Kung – the “Monkey King” of Wu Ch’eng-en’s classic 16th century novel, and to the year of Jack’s birth.

Text Note:

Traditional Javanese texts

Commissioned:

Requested by Jack Body for his retirement concert on October 2nd and 4th, 2009 and written during the Jack C Richards / Creative New Zealand Residency 2008-2009

Difficulty:

Intermediate

Difficulty Note:

intermediate to advanced

Influences:

• Chinese
• Indonesian
• Language and Literature
• Religious

Dedication:

Dedicated to Jack Body

Funders:

• Creative New Zealand

Performance History

	02 Oct 2009	Performed by the New Zealand String Quartet, Gamelan Padhang Moncar (and frog toys), Wang Zheng-Ting (Chinese sheng), Thomas Barker (voice) and Budi Putra (rebab), at Adam Concert Room, Victoria University, in Wellington
		Gamelan Padhang Moncar    New Zealand String Quartet
	03 Oct 2009	Performed by the New Zealand String Quartet, Gamelan Padhang Moncar (and frog toys), Wang Zheng-Ting (Chinese sheng), Thomas Barker (voice) and Budi Putra (rebab), at Adam Concert Room, Victoria University, in Wellington
		Gamelan Padhang Moncar    New Zealand String Quartet