Gamelan

Chapter Twelve

Map of Indonesia

Gamelan (Indonesian Musical Ensemble)

Most Common Ensembles Instruments made of Bronze Instruments made of Bamboo

Basic structural groups of the Gamelan instruments--

•Wilah--bars and plates

•Pencon--gong-like instruments

Wilah (bars and plates)

Wilah

Pencon (Knobbed, mostly gongs)

Pencon

Pencon

Wilah Gender ––– Bronze metallophone with 10

or more metal bars resting on bamboo resonators , one for each bar--played with disc-shaped wooden mallets.

large––– gender gede small––– gender barangan

Saron--- Bronze metallophone with 5-7

metal bars resting over a carved out wooden trough which serves as a pedestal and resonator--played with wooden mallets.

Calung--5 metal bars

Saron

Gender

Gong Ageng--largest and deepest suspended gong--starts and ends the complete metric cycle.

Kempyang--A very small gong laid over laced cord strung across the opening of a small box, played with a cord-wrapped stick. The kempyang alternates with the ketuk to further subdivide the cycle

Ketuk---A small gong laid over cord strung across the opening of a small box, played with a cord-wrapped stick. The ketuk divides the kenong period of the cycle.

Pencon

Kempyang and Ketuk

Gong Ageng and other suspended gongs (kempuls)

Other Instruments

FlutesCeng-ceng

(Cymbals)

Rebab

Kendang

Musical CharacteristicsScales Slendro--five note scale, dividing the octave into five nearly

equal parts

Pelog--seven tone scale, although only five of the seven pitches are typically used at one time. ---five and seven note octave causes “shimmering” sound

Texture Monophonic texture--rarely Heterophonic texture--more than one version of the melody

is played at same time--used often

Polyphonic texture (kotekan)

Gamelan Music Accompanies:

Religious Functions Ritual Gatherings Temple Festivals Dance Dramas Social Dancing Shadow Puppet Theater (Wayang

Kulit)

Wayang Kulit

“Shadow Puppet Theater” Dalang (Puppetmaster/Priest) Based on religious subjects

Parables Myths

Or current topics of the day Social Political

The ancient Indonesian art of shadow play or "Wayang Kulit" is a unique combination of ritual, lesson, and entertainment. Lacy shadow images are projected on a taught linen screen with a coconut oil lamp or electric light. The Dalang, or shadow artist, manipulates carved leather figures between the lamp and the screen to bring the shadows to life.

Most shadow play is based on two epic stories from India. The Mahabarata and it's sister work, the Ramayana.