Music of Indonesia

INDONESIAN
GAMELAN
The gamelan plays an important role
in Indonesian traditional music.

GAMELAN
- The indigenous orchestra type of the
Java and Bali in Indonesia.
- Consists of several gongs and various
sets of tuned metal instruments that struck
with mallets.
 JAVANESE GAMELAN MUSIC

In Java, the introduction of Islam

created a tripartite society divided into:
a) abangan- peasantry
b) santri- Islamic,usually merchants
c) prijaji- nobility, which then defined
cultural identity
Javanese Gamelan Music Characteristics:
Refinement, Intellectualization, Formality
Typical arrangement of
Javanese Music Ensemble
 JAVANESE GAMELAN MUSIC

- Often performed during sacred rituals

and ceremonies.
- Best suited for temples and palaces
because of its gentle and refined nature.
- There is a preference for a mellow sound,
produced by thickly-padded hammers.
- The ensemble is composed of time-
marking instruments, melodic instruments
and elaborating instruments.
PARTS OF JAVANESE GAMELAN

BONANG
Knobbed gongs placed in ropes that are attached to a
wooden frame. These horizontal gongs are played with two
padded sticks.
 PARTS OF JAVANESE GAMELAN

Saron Barung Saron Demung

Saron Panerus
SARON
A bronze metallophone placed over a box resonator. It is
played with a mallet called tabuh.
 PARTS OF JAVANESE GAMELAN

SLENTHEM
An instrument
made of thin
bronze keys of
fine alloy that
plays the melody
of another line. It
is played using
only one stick.
PARTS OF JAVANESE GAMELAN
GENDER
Both are thin metal bar instruments that are
suspended over tube resonators. They play an
elaboration of the main melody.

Gender Panerus Gender Barung

 PARTS OF JAVANESE GAMELAN
GONGS
These are in hangings that play divisions of line
and sections.

Gong Ageng Kempul

Gong Suwuk
 PARTS OF JAVANESE GAMELAN
KENONG
These are horizontal gongs. They are punctuating
instruments which are played by striking the
gongs with padded sticks.
PARTS OF JAVANESE GAMELAN

KENDHANG
These are
double-headed
drums used to
signal the
ensemble
through rhythm.
 PARTS OF JAVANESE GAMELAN
KETUK and KEMPYANG
These are horizontal gongs that play a
“thuk” and “pang” sound in alteration.
 PARTS OF JAVANESE GAMELAN

REBAB
This is a two-
stringed lute
usually used to
perform the
melody.
 PARTS OF JAVANESE GAMELAN
SULING
This is a vertical flute which is used to
perform the melody.
 PARTS OF JAVANESE GAMELAN
GAMBANG
This is a xylophone made out of wood. It is played
by striking the wooden keys with padded sticks.
 PARTS OF JAVANESE GAMELAN

CELEMPUNG
This is a
zither used to
embellish the
melody of the
gamelan.
 Balinese Gamelan Music Characteristics
- Dynamic, loud and rhythmic.
- The wood hammers are unpadded and create
bright and percussive tones.
- There are different variations in the composition
of each gamelan ensemble.
- Instruments can include metallophones, flutes,
stringed instruments, or in few occasions, a
vocalist.
 PARTS OF BALINESE GAMELAN
UGAL
A bronze metallophone
that is suspended over
tuned bamboo
resonators. This is
featured in the gamelan
called kong kebyar
where it plays the
melody of the piece.
 PARTS OF BALINESE GAMELAN

JEGOGAN
The keys of this
instrument are
larger than other
gangsa. It plays the
lowers notes in the
ensemble.
 PARTS OF BALINESE GAMELAN

KANTIL
This metallophone
is the smallest in
the gangsa. It can
play the melody or
an interlocking
pattern called
kotekan.
 PARTS OF BALINESE GAMELAN

JUBLAG
Also called as
calung, this is
a gangsa
metallophone
that also plays
the melody.
 PARTS OF BALINESE GAMELAN

PEMADE
A metallophone that
plays on octave
above the ugal. This
instrument plays
the main melody of
the piece.
 PARTS OF BALINESE GAMELAN
REYONG
These are gongs or
kettles mounted on a
frame. They share the
same notes as the
pemade but plays the
interlocking pattern
instead.
PARTS OF BALINESE GAMELAN
GONGS
This consist of two large hanging gongs.
 PARTS OF BALINESE GAMELAN
KENDHANG
These are two drum pairs.
PARTS OF BALINESE GAMELAN

KEMPLI
This is a small
horizontal gong
that keeps time.
 PARTS OF BALINESE GAMELAN

Ceng-ceng
This consist
of four to five
horizontally
mounted
cymbals.
PARTS OF BALINESE GAMELAN

TROMPONG
These are ten
small gongs
that play an
ornamentation
of the melody.
Music Analysis
Both Javanese and Balinese gamelan use two
tuning systems:
a. Slendro - system of tuning where an each note is
distanced 1.25 tones approximately
b.Pelog - tuning system that divides an octave into
seven unequal intervals
With regard to rhythm and tempo, Javanese
gamelan makes use of slower and grander tempos
while Balinese gamelan makes use of fast and very
rhythmic tempo.
 Wrapping Up!
 Javanese gamelan is refined with soft and mellow
sounds. It is mostly used in sacred rituals and
ceremonies and is very traditional in nature.
 Improvisation is a unique feature of the Javanese
gamelan.
 Balinese gamelan is dynamic with loud and bright
sounds. It is also used for religious purposes but it is
well-known for its secular use too.
 Interlocking patterns to create a sense of rapidity is a
unique feature of the Balinese gamelan.
Prepared by:

DANILO L. PAGADUAN JR.,LPT

MAPEH 8 Teacher
First Quarter
Topic: Music of Indonesia (PDF)