GAMELAN, The Traditional GAMELAN, The Traditional Javanese OrchestraJavanese Orchestra

Rika Rachmita SujatmaRika Rachmita Sujatma

SMAN 1 SubangSMAN 1 Subang

West-Java, IndonesiaWest-Java, Indonesia

The Enchanting Voice….The Enchanting Voice….

In his book 'In his book 'music of Javamusic of Java' Jaap ' Jaap Kunst says, "Gamelan is comparable Kunst says, "Gamelan is comparable to only two things, moonlight and to only two things, moonlight and flowing water. ...mysterious like flowing water. ...mysterious like moonlight and always changing like moonlight and always changing like flowing water ...". flowing water ...".

Gamelan?Gamelan?

Gamelan music is an integral part of all Gamelan music is an integral part of all cultural activities in Java such as wayang cultural activities in Java such as wayang kulit (leather puppets) performance, court kulit (leather puppets) performance, court dance, uyon-uyon (symphony orchestra dance, uyon-uyon (symphony orchestra performance), etc. There are two kinds of performance), etc. There are two kinds of laras (tuning) in gamelan, namely slendro laras (tuning) in gamelan, namely slendro (comparable to minor key in Western (comparable to minor key in Western music) and Pelog (major key). A complete music) and Pelog (major key). A complete set of gamelan consist of two sets of set of gamelan consist of two sets of different instruments of Slendro and Pelog, different instruments of Slendro and Pelog, such as: such as:

Kendang Kendang

A double ended drum beaten by A double ended drum beaten by hands. It is a leading instrument. The hands. It is a leading instrument. The pengendang (drumer) is the pengendang (drumer) is the conductor of the gamelan orchestra. conductor of the gamelan orchestra. There are five (5) different sizes of There are five (5) different sizes of kendang from 20 cm to 45 cm kendang from 20 cm to 45 cm

SaronSaron

A glockenspiel with bronze bar struck A glockenspiel with bronze bar struck with wooden mallet. There are three with wooden mallet. There are three kinds; Saron Barung, Saron Peking, kinds; Saron Barung, Saron Peking, Saron Demung Saron Demung

Kendang and SaronKendang and Saron

Bonang BarungBonang Barung and and Bonang Bonang PenerusPenerus

A double row of bronze kettles A double row of bronze kettles resting on a horizontal frame, played resting on a horizontal frame, played with two long stick bound with red with two long stick bound with red cord at the striking end. cord at the striking end.

Bonang BarungBonang Barung and and Bonang Bonang PenerusPenerus

SlentemSlentem

Thin bronze bars suspended over Thin bronze bars suspended over bamboo resonating chambers, struck bamboo resonating chambers, struck with a padded disc on the end of a with a padded disc on the end of a stick stick

GenderGender

Similar to slentem with more bronze Similar to slentem with more bronze keys and smaller bamboo chamber, keys and smaller bamboo chamber, struck with two disc-shaped struck with two disc-shaped hammers hammers

GambangGambang

Wooden bars laid over a wooden Wooden bars laid over a wooden frame struck with two sticks of frame struck with two sticks of supple buffalo horn, ending with a supple buffalo horn, ending with a small, round, padded disc small, round, padded disc

Slentem and GambangSlentem and Gambang

GongGong

Each slendro and Each slendro and pelog set had three pelog set had three gongs. Two big gongs gongs. Two big gongs (Gong Ageng) and one (Gong Ageng) and one gong Suwukan about gong Suwukan about 90 cm, made from 90 cm, made from bronze, suspended on bronze, suspended on a wooden frame. It a wooden frame. It marks the end of the marks the end of the largest phrase of the largest phrase of the melody. melody.

Kenong and Kenong and KetugKetug

Smaller gongs lay Smaller gongs lay horizontally on horizontally on crossed cord, crossed cord, inside a wooden inside a wooden frame. A complete frame. A complete set of kenong in set of kenong in each slendro and each slendro and pelog consist of 10 pelog consist of 10 (ten) kenongs (ten) kenongs

ClempungClempung and and SiterSiter

A string A string instrument, each instrument, each slendro and pelog slendro and pelog set needs one set needs one clempung. clempung.

Smaller cemplung, Smaller cemplung, each slendro and each slendro and pelog set needs pelog set needs one siter one siter

SulingSuling

It is a flute, each slendro and pelog It is a flute, each slendro and pelog set, needs one suling. set, needs one suling.

RebabRebab

A two stringed viol, the same as A two stringed viol, the same as slendro and pelog slendro and pelog

Keprak and KepyakKeprak and Kepyak

Needed for gamelan to accompany Needed for gamelan to accompany dances dances

BedugBedug

It is a very big drumIt is a very big drum

Source: Source: http://www.joglosemar.co.id/gamelan.htmlhttp://www.joglosemar.co.id/gamelan.html