The Javanese Gamelan

Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia

Culture/Religion

• Great diversity• Major religions are Islam and Buddhism

followed by Christianity• Before 13th century CE, Hinduism and

Buddhism

• Trade, missionaries, ruling class

Indonesia

• Archipelago of ~17,508 islands• Over 238 million people• Shares borders with Papua New Guinea, East

Timor and Malaysia

• Important trade region since at least 7th century

Indonesia continued…

• Dutch colonialism• Turbulent history

• Distinct ethnic, linguistic, religious groups• Javanese largest ethnic group

• “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” “Unity in Diversity”

Java

• 100 million people• ~75 million ethnically Javanese• Most Muslim though a minority practice

• Mostly a farming society– Wet rice agriculture

Jakarta (Batavia)

Dutch East India Company

Regional Trade Network

Jakarta continued…

Yogjakarta

Bank of Indonesia

Yogjakarta Palace

Yogjakarta Palace Gamelan

Gamelan

• A musical ensemble from Indonesia featuring a variety of instruments

• Refers to a set of instruments unified by their tuning and often by their decorative carving and painting

• Gamels “to strike or hammer”

Gamelan continued…

• Predates Hindu-Buddhist culture that dominates earliest records of Indonesia

• Developed into current form during Majapahit Empire (1200-1500)

• Javanese mythology- Created by Sang Hyang Guru in Ska era 167 (c. AD 230)

Different types of gamelanBalinese Bamboo Gamelan

Sundanese Gamelan Degung

Javanese Gamelan

Gamelan Tuning and ModesLaras (tuning system)

Slendro: a five-note (pentatonic) tuningPélog: a seven-note tuning

Pathet (Modes)*Slendro Nem Pélog NemSlendro Sanga Pélog LimaSlendro Manyura Pélog Barang

*Modes correspond to Wayang Kulit performance: Nem from 9:00 PM to Midnight; Sanga from Midnight to 3:00 AM; Manyura from 3:00 AM to 6:00 AM.

Gamelan Musical Structure• Colotomic Structure: based upon a circular perception

of time.

• Reflects the persistence of Hindu-Buddhist conceptions of time introduced to Java during the first millennium C.E.

• All instruments in the gamelan must play important structural or “auspicious” notes together. These “coincidences” carry important meaning in Javanese culture.

Gamelan Musical Structure• The sounding of the gong agung with the

kenong marks the musical instance of the greatest weight or importance. It is at this point that the gendhing (piece) may begin or end.

• Lesser points of coincidence also exist (listed in order of importance):

Kenong strokekethuk strokeKempul stroke

Gamelan Texture

Three layers:Structural: gong and kenong as well as

kethuk/kempyang

Balungan: basic melodic content

Elaboration: realizes “inner melody”

Punctuating Instruments

Gong Agung & Siyem

Kenong

Kempul

Punctuating and Time Keeping Instruments

Kethuk Kempyang

Kendhang

(Played bythe conductor of the gamelanOrchestra)

Sarons: Balungan Instruments

Demung

Saron BarungSaron Panarus or “Peking”

Elaborating Instruments: Melodic Leaders of the Gamelan

Bonang Barung and Bonang Panarus

Rebab

“Soft-Style” Elaborating Instruments

Gambang

Gender (three tunings)

Four Sulings (different tunings)

The Drums

The Gongs

Kempul

Kenong

Kethuk

Kampyang

Demung

Saron

Peking

Gendèr

Slenthem

Bonang

Lancaran bubaran Kembang Pacar, laras pélog pathet nem Balungan Level: Sarons

Lancaran bubaran Kembang Pacar, IRAMA Level: Bonang Barung

Lancaran bubaran Kembang Pacar, IRAMA Level: Bonang Panarus