Harry Pollard

Thesis

Thesis Title & Description

How is the Javanese siter played within gamelan ensembles in the UK and Ireland?

• Supervisor: Liz Haddon

In Javanese gamelan ensembles, the siter (a plucked zither, similar to a dulcimer or psaltery) is found regularly in central Java, its place of origin. However, the siter appears to be played more rarely in gamelan ensembles in the UK and Ireland. I intend to investigate potential reasons behind this, alongside exploring stylistic differences in siter playing between the UK/Ireland and Java. (This may evolve into a more general exploration of differences in gamelan playing between the UK/Ireland and Java).

Biography

Biography

I previously studied a BA in Music, of which a large part was spent learning and performing alongside Gamelan Sekar Petak, the university's own Javanese gamelan ensemble.

Research

Research Interests

Javanese Gamelan, Siter, Celempung, Indonesia, ethnomusicology.