Gamelan Music
of Indonesia
Music Worldwide: Elizabeth Sharma: Cambridge University Press
www.si.umich.edu/chico/gamelan/gamelanVT6.html
History
The Indonesian islands have had _________ links with China and India for two thousand years.
There have been many _____________ and migrations which have all had an impact on the
religion, language, politics and culture of Indonesia.
In the 5th century the Hindu religion was brought to Bali and Java and both _______ and poor
people had an active musical life at this time.
In the 15th Century, there was a Muslim invasion and Islam spread through Java. Many Hindu
princes ___________ to Bali and even today Bali is mainly Hindu whilst Java is mainly Muslim.
From carvings and _____________ we can see that the Gamelan instruments were already in use
during the 16th century. In Bali, the Hindu religion and __________________is a large part of the
culture.
trade
pictures
mythology
escaped
invasions
rich
Gamelan music expresses the deepest beliefs and feelings of the Indonesian people.
The Indonesian culture doesn’t let people openly show many emotions
so they use music to express themselves. Gamelan music is played at celebrations and
rituals such as births, deaths and religious festivals. It is also performed at court and state
ceremonies. The gamelan is housed in a pavillion in the centre of the village. Traditionally
boys and men were the musicians but now more and more women and girls play too.
Performers learn to play all the instruments and learn by imitation and memory.
The Gamelan
The gamelan is regarded as one large
instrument with many players
performing on a variety of gongs,
drums and metallophones.
Gamelan music is heterophonic – this
means that different versions of the
tune are played on top of one
another.
There are two main scales:
Slendro (5 notes)
Pelog (7 notes)
Gamelan performances are an
important part of community life.
Often performances accompany
puppet plays, poetry, dance, drama,
traditional rituals and ceremonies.
Gamelan students learn to play by
ear, although a notation system does
exist
Gamelan music and shadow puppet play: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehjbwdgnp2o&feature=related
Gamelan music :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x206ZF2Bk0A&feature=related
Which instruments do what?
The instruments can be divided into four groups:
Group
Job
Instrument names
Balungen
Instruments
Play the
main tune
These are metallophones played with a wooden
mallet.
Saron family, slentem, gender
Interpunctuating
Instruments
Divide the
main tune
into phrases
The gong family.
Biggest gongs:
gong ageng (68kgs)
Horizontal gongs: kenong
Small, high pitched: kempyang
Panerusan
Instruments
Decorate
the main
melody
The gender family: thin bronze keys over bamboo
resonators. Bonang family = gong chimes. Rabab = 2
string instrument with bow. Sulung = flute
Rhythm
Instruments
Cue in
orchestra
and
accentuate
movements
Kendang and ketipung – cone shaped drums which
are played with both hands. Play sounds indicated by
words like the tabla players in Indian music (bols)
Slendro
Pelog
No two Gamelans have exactly the same tuning – so Gamelan instruments from one village would not be
compatible with instruments in the next village.
RESPECT FOR THE GAMELAN
Gamelan instruments are treated with great respect as
it is believed that they have spiritual powers.
Indonesian people never step over the gamelan as they
believe it would break the link between the instrument
and Heaven.
Naming giving ceremonies take place when a new
gamelan is made
People often take presents to the village Gamelan such
as incense and flowers.
We name
you.....
TUNING SYSTEM
The music of the gamelan is based on one of two different tuning systems or scales, slendro and pelog.
Certain instruments, such as the bonang and gender, have two sets of instruments; one is tuned in slendro and the
other in pelog.
This pair of instruments is often positioned at right angles to each other so that musicians can switch from one to
another during a performance. Compositions do not mix the two tuning systems.