Indian Classical and Gamelan Instruments

Indian Classical Instruments

SITAR•20 strings• Melodic function

SANTOOR•Dulcimer-like sound•String instrument hit or picked with two wooden sledges•25 – 30 string groups with 4 strings each•More than 3 octaves in range•Used mostly in cheerful Ragas

BANSURI – Bamboo Flute•Soft, protracted tones•Calming effect•Associated with Lord Krishna•7 – 8 grip holes•A flutist may interchange several flutes of different ranges during the course of a Raga

TABLA•Most important drum in Indian music•Always in two pairs – dayan, smaller for the right hand; bayan, larger for the left hand•Basic metric rhythm given on the bayan, variation played on the dayan

SARODE•21 strings total• Melodic function•Widest range of all Indian stringed Instruments

TANPOORA•Background instrument•Plays the drone•Usually 4 strings

Instruments of the Gamelan

BONANG•Bonang Barung: Plays notes based on the balungan on the off-beat•Bonang Penerus: Plays rhythmic variation of the bonang barung

SARON & SARON PENERUS•Play the balungan (main melody)

KEMPUL & GONGS•Play only the most important notes of the balungan•Sound at important places to indicate the structure to the other players

KETHUK & KENONG•Kethuk – considered the time-keeper, plays on the off-beats• Kenong – plays bass notes based on important notes of the balungan

KENDHANG•Hand drums give aural cues on when to begin, end, and change sections•Kendhang ageng – larger drum•Kendhang keptipung – smaller drum