Download - The Javanese Gamelan
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