-Poulenc's adaptation of Gamelan Music- How far does inspiration reach?

Through out history western composers have been influenced by the most remote parts of the world. Inspiration seems to overcome distances where originality is concerned. Francis Poulenc's "Concerto for two pianos" is very highly influenced by Indonesian music. A particular piece from a Javanese Gamelan, "Lancaron Jokowo" can be used to demonstrate the relationship between Poulenc and this trend inspired to great extent by the World Music fair hosted by Paris at the beginning of …

…the exotic sounds of Indonesian gamelan music. Among his piers we can name Debussy and Ravel. It is argued that gamelan musical influences were one of the great steps to the assertion of impressionism in music as it gave 20th century composers more insight on how to produce the idea of a theme instead of producing it outright. Bibliography Hiscock C. and Metcalfe M., New Music Matters 11-14, 1998, Heinemann Educational Publishers, Oxford, UK, (Book + Cd1)